Erwin Johannes Eichhorst, age 91, of Waldorf, MN died Sunday, January 27, 2013 at the Janesville Nursing Home. Funeral Services will be held Monday, February 11, at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf, MN. Rev. Michael Mathews will officiate and interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery in Waldorf, MN. Visitation will be held at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells on Sunday, February 10, 2013 from 2-5 p.m. and will continue 1 hour prior to the funeral service at church on Monday. Please see www.brussheitner.com to leave online condolences. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is in charge of arrangements.
Erwin Johannes Eichhorst was born June 24, 1921 near Waldorf, MN, the son of Herman and Caroline (Bluhm) Eichhorst. Erv was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf, Minnesota where he was a lifelong member, taught Sunday School and Bible classes for many years, and served the congregation, district, and synod in a variety of elected offices. Erv graduated from Waldorf High School in 1940 where he was a co-captain of the basketball team. He was united in marriage to Erna Ruth Gerdts on March 22, 1945 at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf, MN. Erv was a farmer for most of his adult life on the family farm just east of Waldorf, growing and selling certified seed. After giving up farming, he worked for several years as an insurance agent. He also worked as a substitute rural letter carrier and assistant postmaster in the Waldorf Post Office. Erv loved to work with wood, build, and fix things. He rebuilt and remodeled much of the family farm house over the years. He particularly liked the wood lathe and produced many hand turned lamps, bowls, vases, and candlesticks. He enjoyed camping, fishing, bird watching, and other outdoor activities. He also enjoyed music, singing, and could play the trumpet, violin, and harmonica. In the last few years of his life, he spent many hours playing his repertoire of favorite tunes and hymns on the harmonica.
Erv was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Erna; 3 daughters: Kari (Scharfe), Joanne (Bode), and Laurie (Manthe); and 2 sisters: Ella Eichhorst and Esther Rasmussen.
He is survived by his daughter: Pam (Greig) Hodgkins of Russell, Manitoba; son: Dr. Brad (Sherry) Eichhorst of Verona, Wisconsin; sons-in-law: Howard Bode of Faribault, Michael Manthe of Waldorf and Doug Scharfe of Waterville; brother: Elwin (Ike) of Greeley, Colorado; brothers-in-law: Willard (Marilyn) Gerdts of Waldorf and Marlin (Diane) Gerdts of Minneapolis; 11 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 3 nieces and 3 nephews.
