Eleanor Thorstenson

Eleanor A. Thorstenson, 90, of Waukon, IA, died Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 6th, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Pastor Bill Odermann officiating. Burial will be at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given to Veterans Memorial Hospital or the Good Samaritan Center, both in Waukon.

Eleanor Althea Thorstenson was born April 20, 1927 on the rural Waukon, IA, farm of her parents, Arnold B. and Irene Althea (Engrav) Bakkum. She was baptized and confirmed at the Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church. Eleanor attended the Center Township "Bakkum" rural school through the 8th grade and graduated from Waukon High School with the class of 1945. On March 5, 1948 she married Otto Milton Thorstenson at the Old West Paint Creek Church. Together they farmed in Paint Creek Township for many years. Eleanor was very active in the milking operation and all other aspects of the farm; she truly enjoyed the farming life.

Eleanor was a member of Mary Circle at St. John's Lutheran Church and the Waukon chapter of VFW Auxiliary. She was an excellent cook, enjoyed doing embroidery and handiwork, and was a prolific canner of the produce from her and Otto's gardens. Eleanor and Otto enjoyed dancing and car cruising together as well as having visitors to their home where she served as an excellent hostess showing concern for all her visitor's needs. Her favorite and most special times were spent with her family.

Survivors include her children: Virgil (Debbie) of Monona, IA, Roger (Georgia) of Herndon, VA, Sandra (Dennis) Deal and Jan (Greg) Gordon, both of Waukon, and Dawn (Todd) Muhlbauer of Decorah, IA; 12 grandchildren: Kelly O'Connor, Jon Thorstenson, Kari Darsch, Erica Thorstenson, Quintin, Kirk, Matthew, and Luke Deal, Scott and Shawn Gordon, and Jake and Dylan Muhlbauer; and 7 great-grandchildren: Chase and Reagan O'Connor, Claire Darsch, Kari and Zeke Deal, Isabella Gordon, and Elsa Thorstenson. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Otto who died October 8, 2017; and a brother Orville Bakkum.

Honorary casketbearers will be Ann-Elise Bakkum, Margaret Hermeier, Delores Johnson, Darlene Leas, Loretta Snitker, Bernice Thies, Mae Jean Bakke, and the Waukon Good Samaritan Center Staff. Her grandchildren will serve as casketbearers.