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Eileen R. Newkirk, 95, of Alta died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at Accura Healthcare of Aurelia.
Funeral services will take place Saturday, Jan. 24, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alta. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Alta. Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 23, from 5-7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141 or Cherokee Regional Hospice, 212 E. Bow Dr., Cherokee, IA 51012.
Eileen Ruth Newkirk was born Feb. 23, 1930, in Iowa to Guy and Dorothy (Mathey) Lind. Eileen was a part of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alta. She attended University of Northern Iowa and earned a degree in teaching. Eileen taught country school near Burnside.
On June 4, 1950, Eileen was united in marriage to Mervin Newkirk at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. They were blessed with five children: Michael, Lisa, Carmen, Melinda and Sarah.
Eileen was active in Ladies Aid and Altar Guild at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Eileen loved photography, traveling, gardening and reading. Family was very important to Eileen and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Those left to cherish her memories are her children: Michael Newkirk of Alta; Lisa (Larry Roorda) Lawrence of Paullina; Carmen (Dan) Cameron of Alta; Melinda Torrez of Leavenworth, Kan.; and Sarah McClure of Nevada; brother Terrill (Doris) Lind; grandchildren: Angel (Rick) Penning, Amber Schreck (Aaron Fiddelke), Tanner Lawrence (Jenni Katich), Bethany (Adam) Reiss, Emily (Thomas) Olive, Cody (Meagan) Cameron, Noah (Nalopa) Hansen and Elijah (Dawn) Hansen; great-grandchildren: Tyler and Ella Lawrence; Kayla (Dalton) Grove; Abby Schreck; Taylor (Katie) Reiss; Caleb (Cassie) Reiss; Seth Reiss (Gracey); Alexandra Samson (Clayton); Isaiah Hansen; Selah and Silas Hansen; Evelyn Olive; Emmett Alafa and Cooper Cameron; great-great-grandchilden, Savannah Reiss and Eleanor Reiss; extended family and friends.
Eileen is preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Dorothy Lind; husband Mervin Newkirk; son-in-law Stephen Torrez; grandsons: Jason Cameron, Levi Lawrence and Austin Lawrence; many brothers and sisters-in-law.
