A funeral Mass for Eugene Elsbecker, 90, of Bancroft, was held 10:30 AM Monday, September 16, 2024, at Divine Mercy Parish ~ St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bancroft. The funeral was live streamed on the Divine Mercy Parish YouTube page.
The following is in his own words: Eugene Arthur Elsbecker was born on June 7, 1934, at the farm home of his parents in rural Bancroft, Section 6, Portland Township, Kossuth County, Iowa. He was the second eldest and second son of six children, four boys and two girls of Clemens and Bertha (Blocker) Elsbecker. The family were life-long members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bancroft.
Eugene “Gene” graduated from St. John’s High School with the class of 1952. In August 1955, Gene and his high school sweetheart, Ruth Ann Becker, were married at St. John’s church in Bancroft. Five daughters and four sons were born to this union and all attended St. John’s school.
Gene was among the original appointed members of St. John’s Parish special lay ministries: Lay minister (now Eucharistic minister), cantor, and lector. Gene’s love of music for all ages, meant participation in grade school music productions, high school choir, St. John’s adult choir, St. John’s High School operettas, St. John’s Parish celebrations, and Bancroft community events. He very much enjoyed singing alongside his siblings at these events.
He has said that his “college” years from 1953 to 1956 were enjoyed in the employ of Joseph H. Welp, owner of Welp’s Hatchery and feed mill. The variety of hands-on mechanical, maintenance and construction work and interaction with Welp’s employees, dealers and customers across north central Iowa and southern Minnesota began a lifestyle of working with the public. Before serving three terms with the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors from 2001-2013, Gene had retired after 40 years working in general construction. In earlier years, after 3 years working with several area crews, he became self-employed in 1959. His business, Eugene Elsbecker Construction, offered services in farm and agricultural building of every need and application. His business also included home remodeling, repairs, and new home construction and light commercial building. In 1960, Gene and his crew built the home at 509 S. Summit Avenue which has been the home and destination for Ruth, Gene, and a growing family, continually since that year.
Adjusting to the changes in farming and grain production and storage led to a new idea of steel circular storage. And for drying bins designed and marketed by a family-owned company known as CHIEF Industries. A thirty-year span (1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s) of sales and construction of CHIEF bins and related equipment in a 40-mile radius of Bancroft earned Gene sales volume awards and vacation trips enjoyed by Ruth and Gene to places including Hawaii, Las Vegas, Cancun, New Orleans, parts of Europe including the French Riviera and Rome, Italy. All of his construction could only be accomplished by the seasonal addition of high school and college-age young workers, who would jokingly answer the question, “What were you guys doing today?” The answers were “Going around in circles!”. They completed more than 750 separate structures over the course of 30 years.
Eugene A. Elsbecker died Thursday, September 12, 2024 at his residence in Bancroft, at the age of 90. He is survived by his nine children, Gary (Marcia) Elsbecker of Jackson, MN, Deborah McIntosh Flaherty of Nevada, Diane Elsbecker of Waterloo, Gregg (Eileen) Elsbecker of Bancroft, Jay (Agnes) Elsbecker of Gilbert, AZ, Dean (Shawn) Elsbecker of Sioux City, Nancy (Patrick) Degen of Emmetsburg, Nikki (Steve) Wagner of Urbandale, and Jodi (Chris) Alt of Algona; 23 grandchildren, Peter Eltjes, Caleb Doyle, Chris (Ellen) McIntosh, Caitlin (Matt) Dreckman, Abby McIntosh, Allison McIntosh, and Samantha McIntosh, Benjamin (Eden) Flockhart, Elizabeth (Patrick) Smith, Joseph (Katie) Flockhart, Nicole (Matt) Crawford, Joshua (Sarah) Elsbecker, Kevin Elsbecker, Jacob (Trista) Elsbecker, Mychal Elsbecker, Anthony Elsbecker, Cassandra (Bear) Moeller, Mike Weaver, Rebecca, Mark, and Aaron Wagner, and Dylan and Logan Alt; and 28 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers and a sister, Phil (Geraldine) Elsbecker of Bancroft, Maurice (Charlene) Elsbecker of Bancroft, and Mary Lou Hayden of York, NE; a sister-in-law, Jackie Becker of Bancroft; and many nieces and nephews and many additional relatives and friends.
He was proceeded in death by his parents; his wife Ruth Ann on May 2, 2018; a son-in-law, Donald McIntosh; two granddaughters, Shannon Elsbecker and Michelle Reisner; his brother, Richard Elsbecker; and his sister, Elizabeth Jergens.
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Bancroft in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.
