Mildred Eakin

Mildred Eakin was born on December 26, 1917 in Calumet, Iowa to Clarence and Edna (Seemann) Bunce. She graduated from Sibley High School in 1937 following her Teacher Training in Osceola County. She was united in marriage on October 17, that same year to Neil Armand Eakin in Canton, SD. The couple built their first home in Sibley, where they resided with their two children, Gary and Sandra. Mildred earned her LPN license from McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 45. Following a move to Spirit Lake, she specialized as a post-op nurse at Lakes Regional Healthcare and loved caring for people. In 1967 Mildred and Neil purchased a farm two miles west of Big Spirit Lake where she resided for the rest of her life. She enjoyed life in the country. She spent many winters with her husband in Alamo Texas and travelling in their motor home together through the western U.S. and on fishing trips to Packwash Lake in Canada. Mildred was a charter member of the Iowa Great Lakes Christian Women's club for over 30 years. She also taught fourth and fifth grade Sunday School for nearly 40 years. Mildred enjoyed church and faithfully took notes on the sermons. After receiving Christ at the age of 15, Mildred shared her testimony with nearly everyone she met. She enjoyed participating in Bible Studies, tending her flower gardens, sewing, embroidering, boating, fishing, swimming, playing games, and visiting with others. She maintained close relationships with dear friends and family, and faithfully attended her great-grandchildren's activities. She was unfailingly positive, loving, interested in others, and always put her family's needs before her own. Left to cherish her memory are her son, Gary Eakin and his fiancé, Karen Feuerhake, both from Spirit Lake, grandaughter, Robin Elser and her husband Greg of Spirit Lake, three great-grandchildren, Jacob, Coral, and Rachel, her sister Norma Jean Cohrs and husband Alan, of Westbrook, MN, her brother, Kenneth Bunce, of Grand Junction, CO, her sister Marge and husband Dean Ricker, of Spirit Lake, her brother in laws, Darrel Eakin of Sibley, Virgil Eakin and wife Irene, and Randal Eakin all of Spirit Lake, sister in laws, Ava Jean Knudson of Spirit Lake and Eunice Bunce of Sigourney, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceeded in death by her parents, sisters, Maxine and Betty, brother Burdette, husband, Neil, and daughter Sandra.