Thomas Harding Eickhoff

Thomas H. Eickhoff, age 58, of Newell, Iowa died Monday, December 18, 2006 at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Funeral services for Mr. Eickhoff will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 21, 2006 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sac City, Iowa, with Father Lawrence McCarty officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will follow at the Newell Cemetery with full military rites presented by the Newell American Legion. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements.

Friends may call Wednesday, December 20, 2006 from 5-8:00 pm at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell, where a parish vigil service will be held at 7:45 p.m.

Thomas Harding Eickhoff, the son of Edgar and Betty (Hansen) Eickhoff, was born November 29, 1948 in Storm Lake, Iowa. Tom was baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed April 7, 1963 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell. He was schooled in Newell before graduating from Alta High School in 1967. He also attended community college classes in Estherville, Iowa.

On February 7, 1970, Tom was united in marriage to LaDonna Richardson in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Laurens, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Shane, Kristie and Jared.

Tom entered the United States Navy on March 31, 1970 and proudly served his country during the Vietnam war. During his service, Tom earned many awards, among them the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Award, and the Vietnam Service Medal. He was honorably discharged on January 2, 1974.

After serving his country, Tom returned home to join his grandfather, Harding, and his father, Edgar, in the family business of general contracting. He remained active in the V.F.W. and American Legion. Tom donated his time as a volunteer driver for the Veteran Administration’s van. He enjoyed fishing, sightseeing, working in his flower garden, wood working and spending time with his four grandchildren.

Tom is survived by his wife, Donna, of Newell; his son, Shane Eickhoff and wife Laurie of Ankeny, and their two children, Thomas and Rachel; his daughter, Kristie Perrin and her husband, Luke, of Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota, and their two children, Alexis and Teagan; his son, Jared Eickhoff and his wife, Briana, of Bloomington, Illinois; his mother, Betty, of Newell; his brother, Bill Eickhoff of Orange City, Iowa; as well as extended family and many friends.

Preceding Tom in death were his father, Edgar Eickhoff; his brother, Steve Eickhoff; and one sister, Becky Zoet.