Eldon Stanley Walker, 86, Luverne, died on Sunday, June 21, 2020, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage.
Public visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 25, at the church. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Attendees are asked to follow CDC guidelines for mask and social distancing where applicable.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Little Lambs Preschool at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne.
Eldon Walker was born on Nov. 8, 1933, to Harold and Stella Marie (Cook) Walker in Delavan. He was baptized Nov. 8, 1940, at the First Methodist Church in Delavan. He was raised on a farm near Delavan and graduated from Delavan High School in 1951. He continued his education at Mankato Commercial College.
On Feb. 23, 1952, Eldon married Ramona Buegler at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Blue Earth. He was confirmed at that church on March 30, 1953. The couple made their home in Delevan. Eldon worked at Stokley Van Camp in Winnebago until 1962 when he took a job at M.I.D. States Packing Company (later known as Iowa Beef Processors) in Luverne. In addition to his job at the plant, he enjoyed farming throughout the years, before and after his formal retirement, bringing in his last crop in the fall of 2018.
Eldon was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne where he sang in the church choir, served on the Board of Trustees, Board of Elders, as well as serving as vice president and president. He also served on a collection counting team and was a devoted supporter of Little Lambs Preschool. Eldon also served for many years as treasurer of the Luverne Township Board.
Eldon is survived by his wife, Ramona; four children, Debbra (Albert) Van Belle of Luverne, Connie (Glen) Boler of Luverne, Vickie (Larry) Ottem of Big Lake, and Thomas (Twila) Walker of Luverne; nine grandchildren, Jason (Teresa) Van Belle, Todd (Chelsea) Van Belle, Nick (Allyson) Van Belle, Andrea (Patrick) Bennett, Nathan (Dana) Boler, Peter (Gina) Ottem, Tyler (Karolina) Ottem, Ryan (Amanda) Walker and Steven (Jacinda) Walker; 21 great-grandchildren; a brother, Maurice (Sharon) Walker of Winnebago; and a brother-in-law, Joe Perrizo of Mapleton.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his great-grandson Eli Bennett; and his siblings Eugene Walker, JoAnne (Don) Ascheman, Shirley (Dale) Ripley, Barb Stordahl, Don Stordahl and Mary Lou Walker.
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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