Harold Eickhoff

Harold Edward Eickhoff, 95, of Hartington, Nebraska died peacefully at the Arbor Care Center in Hartington on Monday, November 18, 2024. Surrounded by their children, holding his hand was Betty, his wife of 70 years. 

 Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fordyce, with Father Jeffery Eickhoff officiating. Burial with military honors by the Hartington VFW Post #5283 and the Legion Riders will follow immediately at St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Fordyce. Visitation will be Friday, November 22nd from 3-5:00 pm with a Vigil Service at 4:00 p.m. at the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington. The funeral service will be live streamed on the Wintz & Ray Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WintzRay/live. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington. 

 Memorials may be directed to the St. John the Baptist Cemetery Care in Fordyce.

Pallbearers and Honorary Pallbearers respectively, will be Harold’s grandchildren: Brian, Brad, Jason and Justin Steffen, Trevor and Cameron Luna, Thomas McEwan, Michel and Marc Eickhoff and Jackson Eickhoff, Kristi (Steffen) Bruning, Kathi (Steffen) Gubbels, Marie (Eickhoff) Geist, Marisa (Eickhoff) Rolfes, Maisie (Eickhoff) Luce, Katelyn (Eickhoff) Becker and Courtney Eickhoff. 

 Harold was the first of seven sons born to Frank Anton and Martha Matilda (Walz) Eickhoff on a chilly November 13, 1929 in Beavercreek, Nebraska. At 13, Harold moved with his family to their new farm just west of Fordyce. He graduated from Holy Trinity in 1946. His early life was filled with family, hard work, and homemade ice cream every night. Harold proudly served four years during the Korean War and was honorably discharged as a decorated Marine. Upon his discharge he returned home to Fordyce where a few short years later at 10:00 AM on Tuesday morning, September 14, 1954, he married the girl of his dreams who grew up on a farm across the road. Harold and his bride Betty (Wubben) raised cattle, hogs, chickens, corn, beans, vegetables, apples, cherries, a lot of flowers and five children on a farm just east of Fordyce. 

 He loved sports and was an athlete all his life, playing baseball, bowling, and dancing. After building their retirement home in Hartington, Harry swung a golf club for the first time. He went on to golf nearly every day the weather permitted. His hole-in-ones were achieved in the Hartington league and the Senior league. He and Betty loved to travel and for 20 plus years they did so with his brothers and their wives touring the US and golfing in California, Texas, Florida and many courses in between. 

 Harold was a loyal community supporter serving on the Cedar Knox Public Power Board of Directors, the Rural Fire Department Board, the Fordyce Co-Op, a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and Post Commander of the VFW. 

Harold is survived by his devoted wife, Betty (Wubben) Eickhoff and his children Mary Lou (Bob) Steffen, Hartington NE, Charlotte (Mike) Tilley, 10,000 Islands, FL, Jean (John) McEwan, Warrensburg MO, Ron Eickhoff, Lincoln NE, and Ken (Lori) Eickhoff, Fordyce NE, 17 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren, brothers, Larry (Joan) Eickhoff, Omaha NE, Charles Eickhoff, Nebraska City NE, sister in-laws Alice Eickhoff, Sacramento CA, Della Eickhoff, Fordyce NE, Claudette (Doug) Sternhagen, Hartington NE, Jean Lammers, Hartington NE and brother-in-law Chuck Wubben, Yankton SD.

 He is joined in death with his parents Frank and Martha Eickhoff, in-laws Ray and Alma Wubben, Brothers Robert (Bob), Daniel (Dan), Edward and Donald Eickhoff.