Eldon L. Grarup, 91

Services for Eldon L. Grarup, 91, of Indianola, formerly of Sheffield, Iowa, who passed away Thursday, February 2, 2023, at The Village in Indianola, will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the First Reformed Church in Meservey, of which he was a member. Visitation will be held, prior to services, at the church from 10 to 11 a.m.  Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield.

Eldon was born in Cushing, Wisconsin, the son of Rev. Andrew Schmidt and Kristina Louise (Rauff) Grarup. He graduated from Sheffield High School and enlisted into the United States Air Force, where he was stationed in Germany. After his discharge, Eldon returned to Sheffield, where he met and married Marilyn Barkela on August 19, 1956 at the Grace Baptist Church. After a brief stay in Chicago, while Eldon was in mortuary school, they returned and purchased Wartnaby Funeral Home, which became Wartnaby Grarup Funeral Home then Grarup Funeral Home.

Eldon was a Scout leader, member of Lion’s Club, past 50-year member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, and even served as Mayor of Sheffield. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, gardening, snowmobiling the Chapin Hills, and reading.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; children, Peter (Susan) Grarup, Peggy (Randy) Peter, Paul (Nancy) Grarup, and Mary (Jeff) Petersen; grandchildren, Joe (Sabrina) Peter, Jaynie (Kenton) Huyser, Spencer (Jayne) Grarup, Amanda (Dustin) Scherer, Alex (Lindsay) Petersen, Emily (Bronson Leinen) Grarup, Megan (Jimmy) Frizzell, Ella (Nick) Young, Nick (Asa) Petersen; great-grandchildren, Clara, Eloise, Simon, Maverick, Audrey, Grace, Nora, Selah, Hayden, Austin, Henry, Benjamin, Emmy, Piper, Easton and little Miss Young to be born in the Spring; two step grandchildren and five step great-grandchildren; sister, Anne Koenigsberg; sisters-in-law, Nancy (Richard) Umsted and Julie Barkela; and several nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law Harry Koenigsberg and Dennis Barkela.

Memorials may be given in his name to Suncrest Hospice or The Good Shepherd Fund at The Village in Indianola.  To sign an online condolence, visit our website at www.overtonfunerals.com.