Memorial

Eldon James Hans, age 91, of Iowa City, died Thursday, December 11, 2014 at Melrose Meadows.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, January 5, 2015 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids in the chapel.  The family will receive friends in the church parlor immediately following the memorial service.

Eldon was born the son of George T. and Ethel (Anderson) Hans on February 6, 1923 at Skiff Memorial Hospital in Newton, Iowa.  He was raised on a grain and livestock farm near Newton, and graduated from Newton High School.  He served three years in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II.  He was united in marriage to Carol Lee West on December 21, 1947 in Kirksville, Missouri.

Eldon received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science in 1948, and a Master of Science degree in 1968, also in Animal Science.  He worked all over the state of Iowa as a Livestock Production Specialist through Iowa State University, until his retirement, after which he served as a legal consultant.  Most recently he was raising cattle and managing farms in Iowa and Missouri.

Eldon was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids and the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City.  He was a member of the Cedar Rapids Agricultural Executives, and wrote numerous articles for Iowa Farmers Today. One of his favorite hobbies was to judge at the state fair as the superintendent for dairy, beef, and sheep.  He served on his church board of trustees and taught as a Sunday school teacher.  He belonged to the Kiwanis and Lions Clubs; he was also a member of Epsilon Sigma Pi at Iowa State. 

He is survived by four children: Anne (David) Nordstrom of Pagosa Springs, Colorado; Linda Pruett of Visalia, California; James (Jill) Hans of Indian Wells, California; and John (Sarah) Hans of Eagan, Minnesota; as well as five grandchildren: Trevor W. (Timeen) Pruett of Augusta, Georgia; Andrea L. Pruett of Denver, Colorado; Charles Nordstrom of Chicago, Illinois; Andrew James Nordstrom of Chicago, Illinois; and Benjamin (Penny) Hans of New Ulm, Minnesota.

Eldon was preceded in death by his parents; wife Carol in 2011; son-in-law Lon Pruett; and sister Shirley V. Johnson.

Memorials in Eldon’s name may be directed to the Iowa State University Foundation Agricultural Extension Fund.