Eunice R. Downs, age 88, of Holstein, passed away on Wednesday, February 08, 2017 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center of Cherokee.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein with the Rev. Matthew R. Martens officiating.  Burial will be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein.  A visitation will be held on Friday, February 10, 2017 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church kitchen fund. 

Eunice Rae (Krueger) Downs was born on January 24, 1929, daughter of Louise and Herman Krueger of Sac City, Iowa.  She was baptized at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Coon Valley Township Sac County, Iowa, and later confirmed on July 4, 1942.  She graduated from Sac City High School in 1946.   After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa with a country school teaching degree, she taught country school in Sac County for two years before her marriage to Ardell Downs on June 12, 1949.  They made their home in Holstein, Iowa where Eunice was a full-time mother and homemaker.  She and Ardell raised four children:  Clair, Connie, Vickie and Jeff.

            Besides being a busy mother, Eunice was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Holstein, Iowa, where she sang in the choir, served on many committees, was a founding member of the Starlighters group and an original member of the Sounds of Celebration bell choir.  She also helped with the LOGOS program, made quilts for missions and served on the altar guild.  She was an accomplished seamstress, assisted her husband in his photography business and, after her children were grown, she provided child care for several infants of working mothers.

            Eunice is predeceased by her husband of 62 years, her parents, brother Dale Krueger, grandson Trevor Downs and step grandson Kyle Heck. 

            Eunice is survived by her four children: Clair and wife Pat from Eyota, Minnesota; Connie and husband George Cortez of Montgomery, Texas; Vickie and husband Kevin Heck of Holstein and Jeff and wife Jerri of Ames, Iowa.  Also surviving are seven grandchildren:  Trisha and husband Kevin Anderson, Troy and wife Kristi Downs; Tracie and husband Casey Wagoner, Kelli Meyer; Kyle Meyer and fiancé Dana Phillips; Gavin and wife Katie Downs; Alex Downs and step grandchild Kim Heck.  Great grandchildren include:  Jacelyn, Jonah and Landon Anderson; Dylan, Kaleigh and Keira Wagoner;  Hudson and Mayda Downs; James Downs and five step-great grandchildren Cy, Jaden, Anna, Emma and Sam Heck.

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