Herman P. EEKHOFF

EEKHOFF, JOHNSON, EVERETT, EGGUM, OLSEN, SCHLOSSER, NEYMEYER, KARSJENS, SWYTER, FOSS, MILLS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/20/2006 at 00:00:58

Herman P. Eekhoff, 85, of Kanawha, died Saturday, February 24, 2001, at the Kanawha Community Home. Burial was in Amsterdam Township Cemetery near Kanawha. Herman P. Eekhoff, was born June 16, 1915, the son of Rev. Peter H. and Marie Johnson Eekhoff on the family farm southwest of Kanawha. Herman is survived by five daughters; Carol Everett and husband, Robert of Omaha, Nebraska, Donna Eggum and husband, Jon of Albert Lea, Minnesota, Janet Olsen and husband, Harland “Oley” of Mason City, Linda Foss and husband, Rich of Winona, Minnesota, Sue Schlosser and husband, Steve of Mason City; one son, Paul and wife, Denise of Clarion; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Stella Neymeyer and husband, Lester of Aplington and Thelma Mills and husband, Kay of Bella Vista, Arkansas; two brothers, Rev. Wiert Eekhoff and wife, Esther of Harper, Kansas and Peter W. Eekhoff and wife, Henrietta of Kanawha; one son-in-law, Harold “Bud” Karsjens of Aplington and one brother-in-law, Gerald Swyter of Kanawha.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife in 1969; and one daughter, Mary Ann Karsjens in 2000.

© Wright County Monitor 2001

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2/26/2001
Mason City Globe Gazette, IA

Kanawha: Herman P. Eekhoff, 85, of Kanawha, Iowa, passed away Saturday, (Feb. 24, 2001) at the Kanawha Community Home in Kanawha.

Funeral services for Herman Eekhoff will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2001, at the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church in Kanawha, with Pastor G. David Daley officiating. Burial will take place at Amsterdam Township Cemetery near Kanawha.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home in Kanawha and one hour prior to services on Tuesday at the church.

Herman, the son of Rev. Peter H. and Marie Johnson Eekhoff, was born June 16, 1915, on the family farm south west of Kanawha and was baptized at the Wright Christian Reformed Church on July 4, 1915. The family moved from the farm when Herman was 5 years old. He attended school in Grundy Center and Dubuque and graduated from high school in Muscoda, Wisconsin, in 1933. Herman worked for various farmers in the Kanawha area until beginning his own farming operation in the Kanawha and Corwith areas in the late 1930s.

Herman was united in marriage with Elsie Mae Swyter, the love of his life, on June 23, 1938, by his father, the Rev. Peter H. Eekhoff on the Swyter family farm south of Britt. The couple made their home on a farm southwest of Kanawha, and later moved to Corwith, before moving back to Kanawha in 1948 where Herman farmed and did carpentry work. Following Elsie's death in 1969, Herman continued to live on the farm until 1988 when he retired and moved into Kanawha. Even after his retirement Herman continued to help area farmers and do carpentry.

Spending special times with his family and friends was important to Herman. He was known for his sense of humor. He enjoyed traveling and baseball. Herman enjoyed music very much and participated in the community choir. He was a member of the Hancock County ASCS Board. Herman also served as Twin Lakes Township Clerk and Trustee for more than 35 years. During that time, he helped organize the Goodell and Kanawha Fire Departments. Herman served as clerk for the Goodell Rural Fire Department.

Herman will be remembered for the Christian example he set for his children. His church was very important to him. He was a long-time member of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church where he served as a consistory member and was active on various committees.

Herman is survived by five daughters: Carol Everett and her husband, Robert, of Omaha, Nebraska, Donna Eggum and her husband, Jon, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, Janet Olsen and her husband, Harland "Oley" of Mason City, Linda Foss and her husband, Rich, of Winona, Minnesota, and Sue Schlosser and her husband, Steve, of Mason City; one son; Paul and his wife, Denise, of Clarion; eleven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; seven step grandchildren; eight step great-grandchildren; two sisters: Stella Neymeyer and her husband, Lester, of Aplington, and Thelma Mills and her husband, Kay, of Bella Vista, Arkansas; two brothers: the Rev. Wiert Eekhoff and his wife Esther, of Harper, Kansas and Peter W. Eekhoff and his wife Henrietta, of Kanawha; son-in-law, Harold "Bud" Karsjens of Aplington and brother-in-law, Gerald Swyter of Kanawha. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife in 1969, and daughter, Mary Ann Karsjens, in 2000. Ewing Dugger Funeral Home.