Obituary for Edward H Eelkema
Edward H. Eelkema entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on August 30, 2023. He was born in Oak Harbor on March 11, 1927, the youngest of the eight children of Peter and Johanna Eelkema. He spent most of his 96 years in Oak Harbor, where he was involved in many different businesses, sold real estate, worked for Island County, and served on the Oak Harbor City Council. He was a fixture for many years amongst the nuts, screws, and bolts on Aisle 12 at Ace Hardware, where he worked until he was 90 years old. He loved to talk to customers and tell stories. He also loved to be outdoors, whether working in his garden, going for daily walks, or searching for crabs at City Beach with his grandkids.
The most important thing about Ed was his faith in Jesus. He was a long-time member and elder at Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church and later the First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor. He loved sharing the good news of the gospel and, in addition to serving as a member of Gideons International, could often be found distributing “Our Daily Bread” devotionals to businesses and restaurants around Oak Harbor.
Ed was preceded in death by his seven siblings. He was married to Mary Eelkema from 1971 until her death in 1989 and then to Millie Eelkema from 1991 until her death in 2001. He is survived by his daughter Monica (Chris) Sledge and grandchildren Kyle and Elyssa of Mill Creek, WA. The family will miss his warm smile and having Grampa take them out for a “bite to eat.”
The family thanks the staffs of Regency on Whidbey and Brookdale Silver Lake in Everett for their care of Ed over the last few years.
A graveside service will be held at Fircrest Cemetery in Oak Harbor on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 12 p.m. For those desiring to make a donation in Ed’s honor, please consider Our Daily Bread or Everett Gospel Mission.
The most important thing about Ed was his faith in Jesus. He was a long-time member and elder at Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church and later the First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor. He loved sharing the good news of the gospel and, in addition to serving as a member of Gideons International, could often be found distributing “Our Daily Bread” devotionals to businesses and restaurants around Oak Harbor.
Ed was preceded in death by his seven siblings. He was married to Mary Eelkema from 1971 until her death in 1989 and then to Millie Eelkema from 1991 until her death in 2001. He is survived by his daughter Monica (Chris) Sledge and grandchildren Kyle and Elyssa of Mill Creek, WA. The family will miss his warm smile and having Grampa take them out for a “bite to eat.”
The family thanks the staffs of Regency on Whidbey and Brookdale Silver Lake in Everett for their care of Ed over the last few years.
A graveside service will be held at Fircrest Cemetery in Oak Harbor on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 12 p.m. For those desiring to make a donation in Ed’s honor, please consider Our Daily Bread or Everett Gospel Mission.