Edith E. Eickhoff - Wykoff

SPRING VALLEY — Edith Elaine Eickhoff, 87, of Spring Valley, formerly of Wykoff, died Tuesday afternoon, March 16, 2010, at the Spring Valley Care Center.

Edith was born May 3, 1922, in Chatfield, the daughter of Elmer and Mabel (Gordon) Sutherland. She attended Chatfield and Wykoff public schools. She helped take care of her siblings until her marriage to Melvin Eickhoff, April 3, 1945, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wykoff. The couple made their home in Wykoff, where she was a homemaker until 1964 when she went to work at the Preston Nursing Home as a housekeeper until 1966. She then worked at Lake Center in Stewartville from 1966–69; Ozzies Grocery Store in Wykoff from 1969-84; Preston Nursing Home in housekeeping, again, from 1984-87; and then was a janitor with Melvin at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1981-2001. She had always been a seamstress and took in sewing for other people.

They moved to Spring Valley in their later years.

Edith was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church since 1964. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, sewing for her children and grandchildren, and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Edith is survived by her husband, Melvin; one son, David (Sandy) Eickhoff of Zumbrota; two daughters, Diane (Dean) Ramaker of Racine and Betty (Robert) Niemeyer of Wykoff; son-in-law, John Furlong of Wisconsin; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one sister, Josephine Baker of Spring Valley; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Cynthia Furlong; two brothers; and eight sisters.

The funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, with Rev. Peter J. Sestak officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Thauwald Funeral Home in Wykoff from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, and at the church on Friday one hour before the service.