Eileen Hiniker

Eileen Mary Hiniker was born to Nora (Hoffman) and Charles Kellen on January 6, 1929 in LeMars, Iowa. She grew up in LeMars until the age of five when she moved with her family to a farm outside Iona, Minnesota. Eileen grew up there attending St. Cloumba Catholic Schools graduating as valedictorian in 1946. She then graduated from Mankato School of Business and worked as a secretary/bookkeeper in Mankato, MN. While living there Eileen met the love of her life, Owen Hiniker. They were married October 18, 1948 at St. Columba Catholic Church in Iona, MN. Eileen lived in numerous states including North Dakota, Kentucky, Tennessee, Delaware, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa following her husband's large scale electrical work projects. They had two daughters Linda and Jan. Eileen enjoyed all aspects of raising her family. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, and cake decorating. Her brownies and pecan pie were family favorites. Eileen loved working in her flower garden, flower arranging and teaching her daughters the names of flowers. Eileen was active in Democratic politics for 28 years and served as the treasurer of the Cherokee County Democrats for 12 years. She also enjoyed working the county elections for a number of years. In her youth, she enjoyed ice skating, keeping scrapbooks, and dancing. During her life she spent time on many other interests including: reading, crocheting, crafting projects, ceramics, attending auctions, and playing bingo. Most of all Eileen loved spending time with her family, her husband, two daughters, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The last 20 years of Eileen's life were plagued by numerous challenging medical problems. Even though she was often experiencing pain, she persevered and was an inspiration to her family. Eileen will be lovingly remembered by her daughters Linda Hiniker of Fort Dodge, IA and Jan (Kenneth) Kistenmacher of Cherokee, IA; grandchildren, Kristi (Benjamin) Held of Coralville, IA and Keith Kistenmacher (special friend Hannah Haas) of Windsor Heights, IA; great-grandchildren, Alexandria and Edmund Held of Coralville, IA. She is survived by her sister Janice (A.J.) Del Calzo of Edina, MN; sister-in-laws, Ellen Kellen of Cedarburg, WI, Marilyn Erickson of Coon Rapids, MN, Lorraine (Wayne) Mayer of Virginia, MN, and Gloria Hiniker of San Antonio, TX; brother-in-law Roger (Arvis) Hiniker of Oceanside, CA; as well as a number of nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. Eileen was preceded in death by her husband Owen (in 2013); parents, Charles and Nora Kellen; in-laws, Walter and Cecelia Hiniker; brother, Kenneth Kellen; brother-in-laws, Daryl Hiniker, Loren Hiniker, Richard Erickson; and sister-in-law, Faye Hiniker.

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