In Memory of John W. Ekstrom

John W. Ekstrom, age 93, of Odebolt, Iowa was welcomed into his heavenly home on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at his residence of Odebolt, Iowa.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 20, 2016 at the Faith Lutheran Church of Odebolt, Iowa. The Reverend Trish Underberg will officiate. Committal Services will be held at the Odebolt Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the Roose Post No. 313 of the American Legion, both of Odebolt, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a prayer service held at 7:30 p.m., followed by an Eastern Star Service conducted by the Signet Chapter #1, of Carroll, Iowa, followed by a Masonic Service conducted by the Wheeler Lodge #398 A.F. & A.M. of Odebolt, Iowa, on Friday, February 19, 2016 at the Christensen – Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com 

John Willard Ekstrom was born on February 12, 1923, in rural Kiron, Iowa, to Carl John “Edwin” and Anna Katherine (Ogren) Ekstrom.

John was baptized into his faith on July 1, 1923 and confirmed on June 23, 1938 at the Bethel Lutheran Church of rural Kiron, Iowa. Growing up on a farm outside of Kiron, John enjoyed working hard with his parents, sister, Carolyn and brother Norris.  He attended country school in Wheeler Township in Section 19 and went on to attend the Odebolt High School and graduated with the class of 1940.

He was drafted into the United States Army in 1944 and trained as a medic at Durham, North Carolina. John was united into marriage with Bonnie “Jean” Hill on January 21, 1951. They would chuckle that a Lutheran married a Methodist in a Presbyterian Church in Odebolt, Iowa. The Methodist Church was under construction at the time. The couple made their home in rural Kiron, but later moved to the Hill family farm south east of Odebolt, Iowa. John and Jean were blessed with a son, Kenneth Allen. As a family, they continued to work and live on the century farm until John and Jean retired into the town of Odebolt in 1988.

John lost Jean after a courageous two-year fight with breast cancer on June 28, 1990. He later went on to marry Donna Druivenga on August 9, 1997 in the Faith Lutheran Church of Odebolt, Iowa. Donna passed away on March 18, 2004.

John was a faithful member of the Faith Lutheran Church of Odebolt, Iowa. He was a very active Mason and currently belonged to Wheeler Lodge #398 serving as their present Chaplain. John received his Master Mason Degree in 1974, Masonic Instructor Certificate in 1983 and District Lecturer Certificate #2894 in 1986.  John served the Grand Lodge of Iowa as a Junior Grand Stewart from 1991-1992 and a Junior Grand Deacon from 1998-1999. He was also Worthy Patron twenty-four times of the Order of the Eastern Star and held memberships in Odebolt, Arthur and Carroll due to consolidations over the years.

He was elected to join the Sioux City Scottish Rite and became a 32nd Degree Mason in March 1988.  John was honored with a Knight Commander Court of Honour on October 3, 2005.

John enjoyed his community and served on several boards throughout the years, including past chairman for Production Credit Association of Storm Lake, Iowa and past chairman of the ASC County Committee of Sac County. John was an active member of Roose Post No. 313 of American Legion of Odebolt, Iowa.

He enjoyed farming, reading the paper, bowling in his younger years, watching westerns and game shows, playing bingo at the Odebolt Nursing Home, sharing community lunch with fellow “60 and Above” friends at the local community building, keeping up on current events and especially noting the markets in general.

John will be remembered as a family man who enjoyed his grandchildren, his forty-three years of dedication to the fraternal brotherhood of Masons and having a smile for everyone. He will be greatly missed by his family and all who have known him.

Left to cherish his memory are his son and his wife, Kenneth and Jerilyn Stehr Ekstrom of Odebolt, Iowa; grandchildren, Allen Ekstrom of Storm Lake, Iowa and David Ekstrom of Ankeny, Iowa; sister-in-law, Genevieve Ekstrom of Vero Beach, Florida; nieces, Kathy Smith and her husband Rick of Marion, Texas, Kristi Strech and her husband Les of Katy, Texas; nephew, Paul Hopper of San Antonio, Texas; extended family and friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Carl (Edwin) and Anna Ekstrom; brother, Norris Ekstrom; and sister, Carolyn Hopper and brother-in-law Herman Hopper.

John will be laid to rest next to his late wife Jean Ekstrom.