Ives J. Eckelberg

Ives J. Eckelberg, age 86, of Maquoketa, Iowa, formerly of Spragueville, Iowa, died on Sunday, March 16, 2008 at Crestridge Care Center in Maquoketa. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2008, at the Miller-Law-Jones Funeral Home in Preston, Iowa. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Preston. A Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at the funeral home. A Memorial Fund has been established in Ives’s memory.

Ives was born on July 8, 1921, the son of John and Sophia (Wink) Eckelberg, in Spragueville. Ives married Marie Medinger on August 29, 1942, in Maquoketa.

Ives worked as a dairy farmer on his family’s farm west of Spragueville until 2006. He was a longtime member of the Spragueville Lutheran Church. Ives served as a member of the Northbend School Board and the Spragueville Creamery. He was involved with the restoring of the Northbend School House, located near Spragueville. Ives enjoyed fishing, gardening, horses, Bingo, playing cards and jigsaw puzzles. Ives was also an avid Chicago Cubs Baseball fan. He loved going dancing with his wife, Marie. Most of all, Ives enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

Ives is survived by his wife, Marie, of Maquoketa; one daughter, Judy (Robert) Andersen of Maquoketa; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Vera Medinger of Maquoketa; and many nieces and nephews.

Ives is preceded in death by his parents; one son, Dennis; one granddaughter, Vickie; and three sisters; Dorothy Engel, Lucille Marlowe, and Marcella Seiler.