Date : 06 Oct 2017
Location : Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton, IA
Vinton
Henry G. Van Eschen, 93, of Vinton, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehab following an extended illness.
He was born Sept. 30, 1924, in rural Ackley to John Christian and Rosa Finger Van Eschen. On June 18, 1952, he married Dolores Mary Salz at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waterloo. She preceded him in death on Aug. 16, 2017.
He graduated from Ackley High School and served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1946 with the 13th Medical Battalion. He graduated from Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, with a B.A. in physical education, biology and science, and from Colorado State College in Greeley, Colo., in 1954 with an M.A. degree in administration.
Henry began his teaching career as an eighth-grade teacher at New Hartford. In 1953, he became principal of grades K-12 while still teaching biology, science, driver's training and serving as head boys' basketball and baseball coach. During the summers of 1958 and 1959, he was an adjuster for Grinnell Mutual Insurance. In 1963, he accepted a position as secretary/treasurer for Eden Mutual Insurance Association in Vinton, and later, along with Bill Strong, started Van Eschen-Strong Insurance Agency, retiring in 1991.
Henry was elected to the Vinton City Council in 1973, serving four years with two years as mayor pro tem. He was a member of the board of directors of the Vinton Chamber of Commerce from 1972 to 1973. A member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, he served as trustee from 1968 to 1971. He also was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Isaac Walton League, Knights of Columbus, UNI Alumni Association and charter member of Ducks Unlimited.
Surviving are his children, Peggy (Don) Weideman of Vinton, Kathy Mossman of North Liberty, Marie (Brian) Bohnsack of Phoenix, Tom Van Eschen of Vinton and Jolene (friend Gary Beckley) Van Eschen of North Liberty; his grandchildren, Charlie (Katie) Weideman, Jeff (Maggie) Weideman, Kristin Mossman, Michelle (Aaron) Campbell and Julina Bohnsack; his great-grandchildren, Georgia Weideman, Griffin and Beau Henry Weideman, Kaiden and Kole Campbell; and a sister, Pearl Sunder of Moline, Ill., and Naples, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Warren, Frederick, John and Joe.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery, both in Vinton, with graveside military rites conducted by Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 of Vinton and Iowa Military Funeral Honors. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, Vinton, with a 4 p.m. vigil service.
A memorial fund has been established for the church and Virginia Gay Hospital Foundation.
Condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.
Cedar Rapids Gazette - Oct 3, 2017
