Howard J. Eldrenkamp

The Reverend Howard John Eldrenkamp died Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at the Wesley Acres Austin Center in Des Moines. A service of the celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 4, 2010 at the Urbandale United Church of Christ in Urbandale, Iowa.

Howard was born on October 15, 1922 in the family farmhouse in Rock Falls, Illinois. His parents were John Eldrenkamp and A. Evaline Brown Eldrenkamp. He attended a one room school, East Coloma rural School, until the 8th grade. He later attended Rock Falls High School and graduated in 1941. He also attended both the University of Illinois and Illinois Wesleyan, graduating with a BA in English in 1947 from Wesleyan. During the WWII years he helped on his grandfather’s farm amidst his time at college.

Howard met Florence Jean Rode while at Illinois Wesleyan and they were married September 3, 1949. He and Flo proceeded to move west to Denver, Colorado in 1950 to attend the Illif School of Theology, his having graduated in 1953 with a Master’s of Theology. He served a student parish in Louisville, CO during his graduating year.

He later served in several Iowa United Methodist parishes. The first full-time ministry call was in a three-point charge at Preston, Miles and Sabula. He later served Iowa in Nora Springs, Monticello, Kingsley, Britt and Eldora. Howard retired from formal ministry in 1987 after 35 years serving as a pastor.

Howard was a prolific poet, having participated in the State of Iowa Lyric Contest and was included among the published poets for 18 consecutive years. He was also active in attending performance events at the Des Moines Civic Center, an active member of PFLAG and with the United Church of Christ of Urbandale Diversity Choir.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, sister Catharine McKenna and loving wife Florence.

His survivors include children Stephen (Lori) of Ottumwa, IA, Mark (Joanne) of Woodbridge, NJ, Paul (Anne) of Newton, MA, James of Chicago, Il, Mart of Boulder, CO and Elizabeth (Skip) Sobiech of Stacy, MN. His grandchildren are Daniel, Will, Kristina, Erika, Olivia, Gracieanne, Corby and Madeleina. He is also survived by several cousins in the Rock Falls and Sterling, Illinois area.

Dad has been referred to as the “ambassador” for Wesley Acres for the past few years. His friendly, caring and empathetic demeanor allowed him to be very popular at Wesley Acres. His death is a loss to all at the facility. Memorials may be contributed to the United Church of Christ in Urbandale, the Wesley Acres Community Room and the Howard Eldrenkamp Benevolent Fund for Wesley Acres employees at Wesley Acres.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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