Menno Eelkema of Listowel, went home to be with his Lord, on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, in his 85th year.
Husband of Effie (Klinker) Eelkema. Father of Brian & Lisa Eelkema of Kitchener, Jacqueline & Frank Geerlinks of Little Britain, Selia & Fred Koops of Ingersoll, Alice & Rick Meloche of Brantford, Brenda & Greg Hiemstra of London, Sara & Mark Verkuyl of Woodstock, Krista & Jim Hall of Fergus, and the late Mark Eelkema (1983-2000).
Grandfather of Alaina, Jenna, and Mark Eelkema, Emily (Owen) Hoogsteen, Wesley Geerlinks, Claire, Bridget, and Adrienne Koops, Jessica Meloche, Rebecca (Will) Baskin, and Leah Meloche, Zachary (Shayla), Michaela, Elyse, and Teagan Hiemstra, and Eden, Calvin, and Wesley Verkuyl, and great-grandfather of Marcus, Jaxon, Waylon, Arianna, Effie, and Astrid.
Brother of Elisabeth DeBliek of Brampton, and George & Patricia Eelkema of Paris, and brother-in-law of Greta Eelkema & Harry Harsevoort of Hamilton, Jack Klinker of Surrey, B.C. Riek Klinker of Guelph, and Linda Klinker of Strathroy.
Predeceased by parents Wes & Sylvia (Boelens) Eelkema, brothers John, Bill, and Peter, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Harry Klinker, Rennie Feddema, Alice Klinker, and Don Klinker.
Menno Eelkema was born in Blija, Friesland, The Netherlands and emigrated with his family to Canada at the age of 9. After living in the Owen Sound and Sarnia areas, he moved to Listowel with his wife Effie and young family over 54+ years ago. For almost all that time, they lived and worked on their dairy farm east of Listowel on Highway 86. Church and School were important areas of his life and he spent many years in leadership and treasurer of both organizations.
Visitation was held at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Listowel, on Friday, January 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., where the funeral service was held on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Private family interment is in Fairview Cemetery, Listowel.
Memorial donations to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Listowel Memorial Hospital, or the Alzheimer Society of Huron-Perth would be appreciated, and may be made through the Eaton Funeral Home, Listowel.
Online condolences may be left at www.eatonfuneralhome.ca
