Ethel Euken

Ethel Eileen Euken, 86, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Thursday, April 14, 2016, at the Heritage House in Atlantic.

She was born January 6, 1930, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of Harry "Bill" and Edith (Bell) Andersen. Ethel grew up on a family farm five miles south of Elk Horn on old Elk Horn Road. She attended school in Elk Horn and graduated from Elk Horn High School. On September 5, 1954, she married Robert Euken in Atlantic, Iowa.

Ethel was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, south of Wiota, which was an important part of her life. She served on many committees. Ethel enjoyed sewing, neighborhood club, and being a 4-H and Cub Scout leader, spending time with her grandchildren and attending their activities. Ethel was employed at Northwest Bell Telephone Company after high school and before starting her family. She then became a mom and homemaker and did this until her children were grown and left home. At that time she returned to work and worked for Delongs in Atlantic.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her parents, Bill and Edith Andersen; parents-in-law, Carl (Lizzie) Euken; brother, Claude Andersen; sisters-in-law, Sandra Andersen, Carol Andersen, Lavon (Eldon) Kiddoo and Linda Euken; brother-in-law, Emert (Darlene) Euken; and nephews, Steve Miller and Mark Euken.

Ethel is survived by her sons, Kent (Brenda) Euken of Wiota, IA and Davin Euken of Minneapolis, MN; her daughter, Denise (Chris) McKinney of Columbia, SC; her grandchildren, Jamie (Laura Swanson) Euken of Washington D.C., Mindy (Juan Carlos Cadenillas) Euken-Cadenillas of Des Moines, IA, Brent (Kristi) Euken of Atlantic, IA, Chelsey Godwin and Ethan Godwin of Columbia, SC; one great-grandchild, Rafael Cadenillas-Euken; her sister, Irma Miller of Council Bluffs, IA; her brothers, Howard Andersen of Atlantic, IA and Ralph Andersen of Littleton, CO; her brother-in-law, Arlyn (Edi) Euken of Cape Coral, FL; her sister-in-law, Norma Andersen of Atlantic, IA; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held Monday, April 18, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, south of Wiota, Iowa.

A time for lunch and visitation will be held in the church fellowship hall following the service. A private family interment of ashes will take place after the luncheon.

lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be made to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, or Ethel's family for designation at a later date.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.