Duane Eldon Siebuhr

Eldon Siebuhr was born June 9, 1932 in rural Lebo to Leonard Siebuhr Sr. and Opal (Summa) Siebuhr. The family moved to a farm west of Hartford where he was raised with 4 sisters and 2 brothers. He graduated from Hartford High School in 1950.

On July 2, 1955, he married Wilma Rich at the Christian Church in Hartford. Their 67 years of marriage was a testament to their love and a great example for their three children, Doug, Donna, and Lori.

Early on Eldon drove a cattle truck for Pappy Hinds. Often one of the kids would ride along. When people would give the signal, he would let them pull the horn and a stop at the Red Rooster in Ottawa was a special treat. After trucking, Eldon worked for Didde-Glaser for 28 years as a tool and dye maker before retiring. Not one to stay still for very long, for the next 20 years he loved driving for local farmers, including Pearson Farms and John Dill, during harvest season. This work took him to Mississippi and western Kansas for custom cutting in addition to the trips to area elevators.

Eldon had a green thumb and always took an interest in gardening and farming. He especially enjoyed going to the Rossillon farm with Joe to plant, cut wood, and complete any other projects needing done.

Eldon always liked to hit the road for work or pleasure. Often the family would get up early on a Sunday morning and start driving and not return until bedtime. A fall trip to Missouri was a popular destination. There were many vacation trips and trips to visit family over the years. Eldon and Wilma enjoyed traveling. Most of the time they would be pulling along their camper. They visited 49 states; North Dakota being the only one they missed. After retirement, they spent several years wintering in South Texas. Eldon took some special trips on his own with the grandchildren to Table Rock Lake and Worlds of Fun. When he took them to Worlds of Fun, they closed the place down! He was a brave man!

Eldon loved his family. As the family grew, with 6 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, he was busy keeping up with ball games and school activities. If he and Wilma weren’t in the stands they were at home listening on the radio. He was always interested in what they were doing.

Eldon was quick-witted and onery. He was a great story teller and he had a lot of stories to tell! Favorites from his childhood on the farm included his horse Mickey and their pet racoon. Then there were those from his working years driving cattle trucks and building roads. If you were in the car with him and he said, “I helped build this road,” you knew there was a story about to be shared.

He was a very smart man and could fix just about anything. He might have to do some studying and thinking on it but he’d get it done. Eldon was always ready to help his family and friends if he could. Eldon was a pragmatic man with great integrity. He treated people with respect and was much loved and respected by others.

Eldon Siebuhr, 90, died September 25, 2022 at his home in Emporia.

He is survived by his wife Wilma of their home in Emporia; son Doug (Veda) Siebuhr of Burlingame; daughters Donna (Ken) Hanson of Emporia; and Lori (Johnny) Fields of Hartford, 6 grandchildren, Ryan Fields, Kansas City, MO; Laura (Tommy) Messersmith, Overland Park, KS; Rebecca (Jeff) Kelley, Hartford; Carly Siebuhr, Emporia; Erica (Jeff) Grimmett, Lebo; Austin (Erin) Siebuhr, Louisburg, and 17 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Theda Wolford and Elaine Smith of Emporia and Audrey Ziegler, Columbus, GA. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Carma Hollar, and two brothers, Leonard Siebuhr Jr. and Buford Siebuhr.

A Celebration of Life/Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturday, October 1 at the VanArsdale Funeral Home in Lebo. Cremation is planned with a private graveside service to be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hartford Community Building or Hand in Hand Hospice and sent in care of the funeral home.