ERIC V. WESTER, 67, of Cleghorn, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday morning, August 28, 2024 surrounded by his family at Heartland Care Center in Marcus, Iowa.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Methodist Church in Marcus, Iowa. Pastor Travis Stevick will officiate. Burial will be in the Liberty Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the family present from 5-7:00 p.m. at Grace Methodist Church in Marcus. The Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements. Services will livestreamed through the Grace Methodist Church. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in Eric’s honor to go towards GoServ Global and for future community projects.
Eric Vernon Wester was born in Cherokee, Iowa on April 12, 1957. He and his two sisters grew up on the Wester family farm five miles north of Cleghorn. Upon high school graduation, Eric attended Northwestern College in Orange City for one semester after which he returned home to farm. During the farm crisis, Eric decided to attend Iowa State University and in 1986 earned an animal science degree.
In the Spring semester of 1984, a young co-ed approached him in Gilman Hall and asked for help finding a chemistry recitation classroom. Coincidentally, Eric was looking for it too. Apparently, there was a good deal of chemistry occurring both within and outside of class as Eric and Sara were married on June 25th, 1988.
Eric spent 10 years working as a purchasing product manager for Harker’s. In 1996 he returned to full time farming working alongside his father, Vernon. Eric stated that his years working off-farm gave him perspective, resilience, and knowledge that aided him as a farmer and cattleman. Yet he was most thankful for his family. Eric and Sara were blessed with three children; Kyle, Andrea, and Christopher, along with two grandchildren; Jackson and Quinn. He loved every minute of being a father and especially loved being a grandfather.
Eric was known throughout Cherokee County as being a community minded man of great faith. He served on countless boards, community groups, and church committees. An avid sports fan, he relished cheering for the Cyclones. His culinary skills were spectacular, his specialty being red meat which he referred to as “the center of the plate.” Most importantly, Eric knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was a good and faithful servant all of his life.
Eric is survived by his beloved wife Sara, his son Kyle (Olivia) Wester, his daughter Andrea (Taylor) Wester, grandchildren Jackson and Quinn Wester, his sister Joanne (Gene) Petersen, his sister Verdene (Dan) Salem, his aunts Lorraine Mortenson, Evelyn Kludas, Eleda Wester and Jeanette Johnson as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ruby and Vernon Wester, his son Christopher Wester, and many aunts and uncles.
