Eileen Nordheim

Eileen Nordheim, age 100, of Decorah, IA, passed away Monday, April 14, 2025, at Aase Haugen Senior Living.

Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 East Water Street, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Matt Becker presiding.  A private burial will take place at Big Canoe prior to the service.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home on Tuesday.

Eileen Wilma Nordheim was born on a farm near Decorah, February 6, 1925, to parents Ella (Rognlien) and William Nicholson. She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church, Decorah.  Eileen attended Decorah schools, graduating in 1942.  She worked at Thurst Kjome Music Shop, Decorah Newspapers, Bolson Feeds, Anundsen’s Gift Shop, and Northgate Manor.  She was especially proud of her time as secretary to the newspaper editor. She had an endearing way of using words like darling, special, astonishing, elegant, cute, wonderful and clever to carry on conversation.    She was a sweet, gentle lady with a twinkle in her eye.  Eileen was united in marriage to Curtis Nordheim on June 9, 1946, at First Lutheran Church, upon Curt’s return from the Navy.  They farmed near Locust and Frankville, buying the Decorah Livestock Market in 1952.  Eileen worked alongside Curt in the livestock market offices in Decorah, Ossian, Waukon, and Cresco.  Beginning in 1965, the couple developed North Home Acres in Decorah on their 80-acre farm.  Eileen helped with the development of beautiful home sites over a 50-year timespan.  Nordheim Park was donated to the City of Decorah as part of the development.

In her later years, Eileen enjoyed watching birds and squirrels outside her window, visiting with her cats, solving jigsaw puzzles, and especially visits from her children and grandchildren.  Eileen always saw the best in people and loved to laugh.  She enjoyed five years at Heritage Haven apartments in Decorah before moving to Aase Haugen Senior Services in late 2018.  She loved being part of the Aase Haugen community, always appreciative of the kindness and care she received there.  The staff helped her celebrate her 100th birthday, and she was appreciative of the many cards she received.  She received several cards from her sale barn friends, whom she considered to be family.  St. Croix Hospice contributed to her quality of life toward the end. She missed seeing small children, especially during COVID restrictions. Eileen had a special relationship with her son, Mike, as he visited her every day.  They maintained their special bond after they both moved out of their three-plex in 2013.  Son Randy shared pictures of all the grandkids with his mom that he had on his phone during visits with her.  She loved laughing over SnapChat pictures she and Randy took together using the silliest filters.

Survivors include her children Randy (Patty) of Waukon and Mike of Decorah.  Her sister-in-law Marilyn Nordheim of Decorah.  Her nephews Steve Nordheim and John Dinger.  Her nieces, Jan Armstrong, Susan Peterson, Tracy Croatt and Karen Oiseth.  Her 5 grandchildren: Amanda (Jay) McGeough of Waukon, Aaron of Monona, Amy (James) Johnson of Cedar Falls, Nicholas (Emily) of Williamsburg, and Shelby (Chris) Kamm of Dubuque.  Her 11 great-grandchildren: Kristen and Mason McGeough; Caleb Nordheim; Ella, Finley and Cooper Johnson; Kinley and Kellen Kamm; Nash, Knox and Nevin Nordheim; and step-great grands Lena, Theo, Jeremiah and Rosella Rausch of Waukon.

Eileen was preceded in death by her son Neil, her parents, her husband Curt in 2003, brother-in-law Gerald Nordheim, sister-in-law Mildred and brother-in-law Richard Dinger, her sister Muriel (Mickey) Wheatman and Mickey’s husbands Lowell Isenberger and Roger Wheatman, her son Jim in 2019 and his wife Julie in 2023, her daughter Laurel in 2024, and her brother-in-law Kermit in 2024.