Eleanore T. Erickson Obituary (1931 - 2024)

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. He prepares a table before me, in the presence of my enemies. He annointed my head with oil. My cup over flows. Surely, goodness and mercy, shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever. Psalm 23 Once upon a time... Eleanore Theresa Erickson nee' Karner was born, March 8th, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois. At 93 years old, Eleanore, had survived cancer twice to the surprise of many. Thanks be to God, she was blessed with a strong body, faith and many talents as artist and creative tinker who invented a variety of ways to fix the unfixable. She was happy and grateful, at her age, to still live in the home she and her husband, Carl, built in 1986. How she loved the beauty of her property and having a place at Lake Summerset. To be outside to play with her dog, to appreciate the sound of the wind in the trees, sunset on the lake and bright stars. Tending to blooming geraniums during the summer, raking Fall leaves and the heavy wet snow which made the trees look magical were among her favorite things. A peaceful release On the evening of August 20, 2024, Eleanore heard her favorite prayer, which she said many times, each day and night, for the last time: "Jesus, Tender Shepherd, Hear me, Bless Thy Little Lamb, tonight. Through the darkness, be Thou near me, keep me safe, till morning light. All this day, Thy hand has led me, and I thank Thee for Thy care. Thou has warmed me, clothed and fed me, Listen to my evening prayer. Let my sins be all forgiven. Bless the friends, I love so well. Take me, Lord, at last to heaven. Happy there with Thee to dwell. Amen." This prayer was said and sung to her, at Mercyhealth Hospital in Rockford, Illinois, during her stay. Eleanore arrived at the hospital on Saturday morning, August 17th and family was with her during the days and nights, until Tuesday, when her daughter, Lois and granddaughter, Montserrat were there, singing and praying during her final hours. To God Be the Glory, for her peaceful release. Baptism into the Christian Faith Eleanore Theresa was baptized as a child of God and confirmed at Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church. She attended Bethel Elementary School in Chicago and graduated from Kelvyn Park High School. She had been encouraged to cultivate her talent at The Art Institute of Chicago, by her high school teachers. True Love While studying downtown and working at Woolworth's on North Avenue and Crawford, she met Carl Oscar Erickson, in 1948. He had enlisted in the United States Navy, after Pearl Harbor. Because he was only 16, his parents, Hans Kulland and Inge Bernice Erickson, from Norway, had to sign their approval. As the courtship became more serious and when the Karner and Erickson families met, Eleanore's brother, Francis, realized he and Carl had been confirmed together in 1938 by Pastor William Boehm, who also officiated at Carl and Eleanore's marriage ceremony, 30 May 1953. Their honeymoon was to Estes Park, Colorado, Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. Mom always said, it was the best trip, because she was with the man she loved and he was taking her on the adventure of a lifetime, as she had never traveled anywhere, except to Forest Park or the South Side of Chicago before their honeymoon. Vacations in wild places Carl and Eleanore continued to enjoy camping. They returned to those places from their honeymoon, with their daughters, and also to Grand Tetons, Big Horns, Black Hills, Maine, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Banff and Jasper in Canada. Carl was drawn to Blue Highways and historic places where Lewis and Clark's Expedition had traveled and Civil War sites. One Mother's Day, Karen, was leading a workshop at University of Alaska at Anchorage, and Eleanore had the chance to visit the state Carl had always wanted to visit, because his grandfather, Oscar Erickson, had traveled from Norway to work on the Alaskan Railways. Eleanore visited Disney World in Florida and had the chance to meet her mother's younger sisters' families and her father's brother's families in Weissfleck and Willesdorf, Burgenland, Austria. Heart, Hearth and Home Eleanore and Carl's first home was in Springfield, Illinois. They lived in rented houses in Aurora and Chicago, and finally built the only home they owned at Lake Summerset in Davis, Illinois. Throughout their lives, Carl and Eleanore, through sacrificial giving, showed commitment to Lutheran Education, making sure Karen Marie, Nancy Diane and Lois Eileen all attended Bethel Lutheran and Luther North High School in Chicago. At our Dad's eulogy, Pastor Boehm described, how Carl, was disappointed that he had not been able to purchase a home, when his daughters were home. Pastor reassured him, "You made the wisest decision, a shepherd could make for his children." Bless be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love Eleanore ended every phone call, no matter who she was talking to, by sending her love, and telling us to make sure, they knew, she was sending her love, to her grandchildren and great grandchildren and "everybody who is there". She is survived by daughters, Nancy, Karen, Lois and Lois' three sons and their families, Erickson Henry and Montserrat and their children, Matthew Sebastian and Sophia Olivia; Justin Carl and Stephanie; Trevor George and Kendall; nephew, Scott and Linda Karner, their daughters, Linda, Kate and Holly, all generations of the Karner family cousins. A very special relationship to mom was with Joan and Arlene, who were younger cousins and her bridesmaids, who she still referred to, "as the Hutter girls"; Armin Arndt who had been a young usher at Eleanore and Carl's wedding and a frequent visitor; her funny cousin, Carole Greve, who was always being promoted to drink vinegar and honey for whatever ailed her or Elmer; her beloved Godchild, Carli, who was the daughter of her best friend from grade school and high school; and very dear friends, Trish, Rebecca and Joel. Thank you for all the loving ways to expressed your heart to Eleanore. Family Tree Eleanore was the third child of Joseph Karner and Marie Bundschuh. Both were born in Burgenland, Austria, immigrated to America, as young adults: met, courted and married in Chicago. Eleanore Theresa joined her elder brother, Francis Joseph Karner (b:1925) and elder sister, Rosemarie Elizabeth Karner (b: 1929) in a loving Lutheran home. Sadly, her father Joseph, died, when Eleanore was quite young and a loss she felt deeply. Eleanore's husband, Carl, their four parents, her siblings, Francis and LaVergne Karner, Rosemarie Karner, her three nephews, Dale, Ralph and Glen; nieces, Carol, Rose, Patty and cousins, Willie and Jean Fleck, Carol Arndt, Elmer Greve who all preceded her in death. To imagine Eleanore being welcomed by her Lord Jesus and Carl and everyone she loved, as if at Oktoberfest, with polkas and plum dumplings, is our idea of heaven. Activities Eleanore enjoyed and employment For decades, Eleanore participated in choir and service activities at Bethel Ladies Aid and Luther North Auxilurary. She was talented as an exceptional artist in oil painting and did a massive work of the Vine Tender Scripture, at the foyer of Bethel Lutheran Church with breathtaking detail of vines and grapes. Her meals were so delicious, especially ones, recreated from what Great Gramma Karner brought as a 16 year old from Austria. Eleanore decorated so each holiday table was special and started the tradition of exchanging special European ornaments at Thanksgiving. Besides her years at Woolworth's, Eleanore worked in the children's department at Crawford Department Store in Chicago. She made Christmas baskets at Swiss Colony in Monroe. She served meals to children at Durand Elementary School. She worked in the Deli department at Countryside Market in Durand. She was a greeter and clerk at Lake Summerset's Mini Mart. She was on a softball team, bowling league and at 80, still a very good golfer She enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs on WGN with Jack Brinkhouse in the 1960s and saw the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. Mourning may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning Eleanore savored the beauty of the sunrise, changing seasons and loved being outside with the falling leaves. Loss of her sight, from macular degeneration, was a worry. But, what a blessing that while she struggled, she could see the beauty in the faces of her great grandchildren and in nature. She kept her Christmas tree lit, year round, which might seem odd, but she found the lights at night comforting. She said, "I like these Christmas things, around me, because of how those are memories of the fun we had and of happier times". Eleanore mourned how Carl had been in their Lake home, only four years, before dying of leukemia, just two days after his 66 birthday. Eleanore was a widow for 33 years and mentioned Carl and his wise words, homor and tender wit every day. While extremely self sufficient, there is no doubt, care from her daughters, grandchildren, and loving friends and family gave her great comfort, which prolonged her good life. Carl and Eleanore and Nancy became members at St. John's Lutheran Church, in Pecatonica, Illinois, when they moved there in 1987. When she could no longer drive or get to worship, Nancy read the order of worship and the sermon sent from St. John's; Karen led devotions during Covid; Lois and her grandson, Matthew, read lessons and sang that Sunday's hymns to Eleanore and Nancy, when they came home from church. Grateful to Pastor of St. John's, Reverend Philip Allman, for visitation with the family, at the hospital, calling with prayers and for officiating at a private memorial planned for the family. The family of Eleanore Theresa Erickson appreciate your prayers and expressions of comfort. Grant peace we pray, in mercy, Lord. Amen