Eleanor Eischeid, 105

Oct. 12, 1913 —

Nov. 1, 2018

 

Cresco - Eleanor Eischeid, age 105, died on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, Iowa, surrounded by her family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, at Notre Dame Parish in Cresco, with Father Dennis Cain officiating.  Burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco.  Visitation will be held from 9:30-11 a.m. on Wednesday at the church.

Eleanor M. Eischeid was born on Oct. 12, 1913 in Cresco to William H. Owens and Anna (Dorgan) Owens. She graduated from Cresco High School in 1930 and then graduated from Normal School in Cedar Falls, Iowa in 1931. She later worked at JC Penney’s. 

Eleanor donated her free time to volunteering for meal sites, the Historical Society and at the voting polls, since she was very politically-minded. She was awarded Outstanding Volunteer of the Year from Robert Ray, the Governor of Iowa. She loved to entertain and was a wonderful hostess, baker and cook, always trying out new dishes on her kids. 

Eleanor and Art brewed home brew. She enjoyed having a beer, head cheese and pickled pigs feet. She was also a talented seamstress. She was very creative and would use all the scraps. She was an avid traveler and visited many states. She enjoyed playing Canasta, 500, 31 cards and taught her grandkids how to play Cribbage as well as how to count. 

Her grandchildren were always given a box of sugared cereal when visiting and received a stick of gum in their birthday cards. After she lost her sight, family correspondence was done through recorded tapes. Eleanor, the avid reader, listened to over 1,000 audio books on tape provided by the Iowa Society of the Blind. Her major philosophy in life was “anything in moderation.”

Eleanor is survived by her children, Suzanne (Ron) Ollendick of Lime Springs, Iowa and David (Carol) Eischeid of Bellevue, Iowa; nieces, Nancy (Jon) Armstrong of Minnesota, Beverly Eyberg of Texas and Patricia Winegardner of Oregon; nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Art Eischeid in 1972; brothers, Cletus Owens, William (Ding) Owens and Raymond (Cub) Owens; and a sister, Geraldine Kelly.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Howard County Historical Society, Notre Dame Parish or an organization of your choice.