Funeral services for Eldon L Fordyce, 80, of Aurelia, will be Thursday, June 3, 2010, at 10:00 A.M., at the First United Methodist Church in Aurelia with Pastor Missy Brown officiating. Burial will be in the Good Hope Cemetery, rural Cherokee. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. with the family present and Masonic services at 7:30, at the First United Methodist Church in Aurelia. The Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia is in charge of arrangements.
Eldon died Monday, May 31, 2010 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake.
Eldon Lynn Fordyce was born July 19, 1929, the son of Leroy Allen and Beulah Marie (Ford) Fordyce in Blockton, Iowa. He spent his youth in Blockton. On the advice of a family member, he headed to northwest Iowa in hopes of farming Iowa’s best soil shortly after his graduation from high school in 1947. He spent time as a hired farm hand in the few years that followed and was drafted into the Army. On October 19, 1951, Eldon married Janet Carol Dubes in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where Eldon served in the Army prior to his service time overseas during the Korean War. After his discharge Eldon worked for the Linn Grove Telephone Company for several years. They were married 48 years prior to Janet’s death in January of 2000. They lived the majority of their married life five miles northeast of Aurelia. There they established a successful dairy farm along with their children. Eldon had a passion for farming and took great pride in all matters related to the family farm, a legacy he now leaves for his children and grandchildren to continue to enjoy. Eldon also worked as a genetic cattle evaluator for American Breeders Service for 30 years. He served as a long-time 4-H leader, and he was a board representative for the Iowa Lakes Electric Co-op. Janet and Eldon were active in Eastern Star. Eldon was a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge in Alta, and the American Legion in Aurelia. They were avid travelers. Eldon continued to live on the farm after retirement until the last few months of his life when he resided at The Gardens in Cherokee. He enjoyed attending the activities of his grandchildren and loved spending time with his family.
Preceding Eldon in death were his parents, his wife Janet on January 16, 2000, a sister, Naomi Johnson, and a brother, Francis Fordyce.
Eldon’s death is mourned by his five children and their spouses, Dan and his wife Julie, Mark and his wife Cathy, and David and his wife Lori all of Aurelia, Mathew and his wife Gretchen of Alta, and Carol and her husband David Kopel of Spirit Lake. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Stephanie Fordyce of Aurelia, Melissa and husband Stacey Carlson of Sac City, April and husband Jake Schutt and Jay and wife Stephanie Fordyce of Aurelia, Joshua and wife Nikki Fordyce and Bradley and wife Molly Fordyce of Sioux City, Tara Fordyce of Omaha, NE, John Fordyce of Cambridge, MA, Timothy Fordyce of Davenport, Hannah Fordyce of Alta, Maddie Hanneman and A.J. Kopel of Spirit Lake, and three great-grandchildren; Becca, Cody, and Mason Carlson, two sisters-in-law; Betty Fordyce of Oelwein, IA, and Darlene Dubes of Storm Lake, and two brothers-in-law, Hans Johnson of Omaha, NE, and Will and wife Cleo Dubes of Des Moines, as well as close family friend Darren Kellar, and many extended family members and friends.