KENNETH L. "IKE" EICKSTADT

Kenneth L. "Ike" Eickstadt, 79, was received in Heaven Oct. 4, 2012

He was born Sept. 23, 1933 in Bemidji, Minn., the son of Reinhold and Mildred Eickstadt.

He grew up in Bemidji and graduated from Bemidji High School in 1951. Kenneth attended Bemidji State University until he changed his path and joined the Air Force and was stationed in Guam. Upon returning to the States, he was stationed at Finland Air Force radar facility in Finland, Minn.

He met and married Ethel E. Hicks in October 1955. After an honorable discharge in July of 1960, he was hired at Reserve Mining Company in Sliver Bay Minn. He retired from Reserve Mining in the early 80’s.

At the same time he worked at Reserve, he was employed by Lake Superior School District as a bus driver, mechanic, and grounds keeper. During his career as a bus driver, he accumulated over 500,000 miles without an accident, and was recently honored by the State of Minnesota at a retirement celebration in Silver Bay in June 2012.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years; his son Andy (Barbara) Eickstadt of Bemidji, Minn., son Alan (Linda) Eickstadt of Duluth; and his daughter Kim (Daniel) Solem of Pearland, Texas; grandchildren Adam (Jessi) Eickstadt of Puposky, Minn., Annie (Andy) Phillips of Bemidji, Delani and Kale Eickstadt of Duluth; great grandchildren Dexter and Gracie Eickstadt, and Rylin Phillips and brother Donald (Patti) Eickstadt of Bemidji, Minn.

VISITATION: 2 p.m. Saturday Oct. 20, 2012 until the 3 p.m. Memorial Service in the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Ave Duluth.

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