Ardell Keith Eiben

Ardell Keith Eiben, the son of John Edwin and Gertrude Eiben was born on February 15, 1930, in Dixon Nebraska. He passed away at his home at Heritage House in Atlantic, on November 7, 2024, at the age of 94 years, 8 months and 23 days.

He was the second child and in the following years, seven more children were added to the family. They lived on a farm near Dixon, and he started school there. Later, due to the drouth and no crops, they moved to Omaha where his Dad had found work. In 1945, when Ardell was 15 years old, his Dad purchased a farm near Viola Iowa and the family moved there. Ardell graduated from the Viola High School in 1948 and stayed on the farm to work for his Dad for another year, then he went back to Omaha and began working for Union Pacific at the UP offices in downtown Omaha.

On September 2,1950, he and Janice Elizabeth Kelly were married at Saint Mary's Church in Anita. Over the years, their family grew to include seven daughters and one son.

He continued to work for Union Pacific and in 1956 when the computer systems were beginning to be installed there, he applied for a position in that department. He worked his way up and in 1975 he was chosen to be the director. This included overseeing computer departments all over the country. He spent a lot of time in other cities all over the US working with computer systems in all their offices. He held this job until he retired in 1995. With all his workload, he still managed to be a kind and loving Dad and take his children on many little outings and trips.

After retirement, he and Jan moved to Walnut, IA for a few years, where they had a good time collecting antiques and taking trips in their motor home. Jan's health failed and they moved back to Omaha so she could be near her doctors. Jan passed away on January 5, 2003.

He spent time after that, traveling all over the country, visiting siblings and other relatives. On October 27, 2005, he and Ruth Kelly were married at Saint Mary's Church in Anita. That added another six children and many grandchildren to his family. He was such a kind and generous man and had enough love for all of them. He was a man of deep faith and spent a lot of time working at whatever was needed at his church as long as he was able.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth, his children, Sandra Turley, Karen Brunghardt, Patty Tvrdy, Tim Eiben, Laure O' Doherty, step children, Ron (Carolyn) Kelly, Jerry (Karolyn) Kelly, Janet (Paul) Ruhr, Mark (LeAnn) Kelly, step daughter-in- law Nancy Kelly, brothers, Lyle Eiben and Jerry Eiben and sister Shirley Johnson, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his in-laws, Paul and Birdie Kelly, his first wife Janice, three daughters, Nancy Eiben, Mary Sanny and Bobbie Mixon, one grandson, Jimmy Zavodney brothers, Dwain and his wife, Marilyn Eiben, Norman Eiben, sisters, Jeanette and husband, Bill Haskins, Alberta and husband Willard Lyons and Thelma and husband Bob Johnson. Stepsons Robert Kelly and Stephen Kelly. Plus several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Anita with Father Brad Robey as Celebrant. A luncheon will be held in the church fellowship hall following Mass.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska at a later date.

The family will greet friends one hour prior to Mass on Wednesday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for future designation and can be sent in care of Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523 Atlantic, Iowa 50023.

The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic is caring for the Eiben family at this time.