Dale Eklund

Dale Eklund, 92 of Afton, Iowa entered eternal rest December 23, 2021 at his home. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 29, at Salem Lutheran Church in Creston, Pastor Evan McVann officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 8:30-10:30 AM, Wednesday with family receiving friends 9:30-10:30 AM. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Salem Lutheran Church &/or the Creston Elks Lodge. Memories/condolences may be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Dale was born September 25, 1929, at home in Highland Township to Roy and Esther Eklund. He was baptized at South Valley Evangelical Church, went to country school at Highland #7, and graduated from Creston High School in 1947. ‘Uncle Sam’ didn’t want Dale for the service; he went into farming partnership with an uncle and driving livestock trucks to St. Joe (Missouri) and Omaha.

On September 13th, 1953, Dale married Judy Tyler of Lenox, they moved to Dale’s grandfather’s farm that Dale’s grandfather had bought in 1907—the grandfather had immigrated to the United States from Sweden in the 1880s. Dale and Judy had their first date 72 years ago this past May 13th and have been married 68 years.

After 10 years, they bought a farm directly north of where he was born; they still resided on that farm at the time of Dale’s passing. After finishing thousands of hogs (many of which he farrowed in the huge complexes on his parents’ farm and his current acreage) for almost 25 years; they went into grain farming until Dale retired and rented the acres.

Children include Christina (Gary) Walters of Cumming, Peter (Teresa) Eklund of Lincoln (NE), Andrew Eklund of Sydney (Australia), and Suzanne (Mike) Sheeder of Menlo. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ralph in 1936, grandson Sidney, parents-in-law Don and Gladys Tyler, brother-in-law Winston Tyler, and many first and second cousins.

After decades of 24/7 attention to all that contributes to great farming, they decided to enjoy traveling. Some of their favorite locations were Canada, Hawaii, Fiji, an Alaskan cruise, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia to visit their son Andy, Sweden visiting ancestors, twice shadowing their son Peter and his honor choirs around Europe, all-family gatherings in Branson, Chicago, and many other locations.

Dale’s peers chose to honor him in many ways and many times during his 70 years working his land, among a few are the multi-district Soil Conservation District Awards, Century Conservation Family Award, Steward of the Land Award, numerous county and state conservation awards, “Special Care of Water, Air, and Land” award, Farmer of the Century Award, Land Grant Awards, Farm Progress Show, and others.

Dale was board member of Crestland Cooperative (1974–1986), Iowa State Savings Bank (12 years), Lakeshore Golf Club (which he helped build), Pork Producers Board, and belonged to the Elks and Crestmoor Golf Club.

Dale loved his red machinery! The hardest thing he ever did was sell the machinery and watch the big pieces all go down the road.