Eleanor Ines (Probasco) Soetmelk was born August 8, 1915, to William and Mary (Blankenship) Probasco in Dunlap, Iowa. She attended rural school and graduated from Woodbine Normal School in 1931. Eleanor married Carl Soetmelk on June 13, 1938. She taught country school for several years and at Tri Center for 23 years. She enjoyed 33 years of teaching before she retired. Eleanor kept in contact with many of her students even after they graduated.

Eleanor was a member of Zion Lutheran and Immanuel Lutheran Churches. She was also a member of the Harrison County Retired Teachers Association, Harrison County Historical Society, Harrison County Genealogy Society, Woodbine Fine Arts, NEA and ISEA. Eleanor enjoyed volunteering at the Harrison County Historical Museum, at the Kiwanis breakfast and meal site and at the Logan Senior Center.

Eleanor died Friday, April 2, 2010, at Westmont Care Center in Logan at the age of 94 years, seven months and 25 days.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Soetmelk; a sister in infancy; three siblings, Wilma Park Postma, Harvey and William Probasco. She is survived by two sons, Lloyd (Rilla) Soetmelk of Woodbine, Iowa, Jim (Diane) Soetmelk of Greybull, Wyoming; five grandchildren, Vicki (Casey) Speake, Andrea (Mike) Laird, Laura (Shawn) Pavlik, David (Jill) Soetmelk and Jeff (Laura) Soetmelk; four step grandchildren, Ami, Steve, Eric and Stacey; 13 great grandchildren; 22 step great grandchildren; two sisters, Lillian (Murlyn) Ronk of Dunlap, Iowa, Catherine (Merideth) Amass of Dixon, California; two sisters-in-law, Rosalie Probasco of Woodbine, Iowa, Agnes Soetmelk of Logan, Iowa; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service
Monday, April 5, 2010, at 2:00 pm
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Logan, Iowa

Clergy Pastor
Jerald Firby

Musicians
Dona Emswiler
Amanda Speake & Shawn Pavlik

Congregational Hymns
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Abide with Me
What a Friend we have in Jesus

Honorary Pall Bearers
Zachary Pavlik ~ Matthew Soetmelk

Pall Bearers
David Soetmelk ~ Jeff Soetmelk ~ Casey Speake
Shawn Pavlik ~ Mike Laird ~ Josef Speake
Gabriel Pavlik ~ Brendon Laird

Final Resting Place
Woodbine Cemetery
Woodbine, Iowa