Obituary for Marvin M. Eskildsen
Obituary Marvin M. Eskildsen Oto, Iowa - Marvin M. Eskildsen, 95, of Oto, Iowa died Monday, November 24, 2014, at Maple Heights Nursing Home in Mapleton, Iowa. Services will be Friday, November 28, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton. Pastor Karen Handke will officiate. There will be no visitation or prayer service. The family is receiving condolences on line at www.armstrongfuneral.com. Marvin Matt Eskildsen was born July 23, 1919, to Matt and Lillian (Kent) Eskildsen on a farm north of Danbury, Iowa. He attended the public school in Danbury until the family moved to Oto, Iowa when he was in the 9th grade. He graduated from Oto High School in 1937. Marvin was drafted into the Army in March of 1942. After basic training, he was sent to airplane mechanic school in Chanute, Illinois. After completing that, he remained there to specialize in aircraft instrument repair and testing. On June 1, 1943, he was sent on the Queen Mary to Port Glasgo, Scotland. His first assignment in England was to be a B-17 Bomber Group as an instrument specialist. After a few months, he was transferred to a newly activated service squadron for P-47 Fighter Airplanes in southern England and placed in charge of the instrument repair shop. The night before D-day, he helped paint the black and white "invasion stripes" on the airplanes, not having the faintest idea that the invasion of France was to begin a few hours later. During the night of July 3, his squadron landed on Omaha Beach. Their mission was to support the ground troops, and moved along with them on through France, Belgium, and Germany. During this time he was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant. He was in Europe for nearly two and one-half years. Recalled to active duty for one year during the Korean Conflict, he was stationed in Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah. Later on, he enlisted in the 185th Air National Guard and remanned with them until July, 1079, completing 32 and one-half years of military service. Medals awarded were the European-Theater-of-Operation with four Bronze Stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Service Plaque, Armed Forces Reserve Medal/Hour Glass Device, Air Force Longevity Medal/Oakleaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, and four overseas bars. Marvin was married to Helene Crucifix in Brussels, Belgium on August 5, 1955. He met his wife while on leave-from-duty while stationed at Saint Trond, Belgium. He worked for Hamann-Sauser, Case IH Dealer in Anthon for about 20 years as a mechanic and for the town of Oto for about 5 years, Survivors include his wife Helene; and his son and his wife, John and Barb Eskildsen, all of rural Oto, Iowa; one brother, Alvin Eskildsen of Correctionville, Iowa; and one sister, Betty Anderson of Buffalo, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Elaine and Pauline.
Service:
Friday, November 28, 2014 2:00 p.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 210 South 5th Street Mapleton, Iowa
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Service:
Friday, November 28, 2014 2:00 p.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 210 South 5th Street Mapleton, Iowa
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