Eileen Bildstein

EILEEN BILDSTEIN

Earlville

Eileen Isabell (Greiner) Bildstein, 80, of Earlville, died Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Oak Crest Manor in Dyersville. Visitation: 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 6, at Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Earlville, with an 8 p.m. Scripture service, and additional visitation from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earlville by the Rev. Dennis Quint. Burial: St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Earlville.

Eileen was born Oct. 8, 1936, the daughter of Leo and Hilda (Nachtman) Greiner. She attended school in her backyard, where the school house was located; the teacher lived with the family a few years. She attended eighth grade in Earlville, living with an elderly woman. On Oct. 18, 1954, Eileen married Henry J. Bildstein Jr. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earlville. The couple farmed near Earlville all of their lives. Eileen moved into town in 2013, but returned to the farm often.

Eileen enjoyed volunteering. She arranged many meals at the church for funerals, fish suppers, breakfast and other events.

Eileen was a member and past president of the St. Joseph's Guild. She helped at Camp Courageous garage sales and Oak Crest Manor. Eileen donated 19 gallons of blood throughout her life to Mississippi Valley and the American Red Cross. She also served as an election-day poll worker.

Eileen loved the garden, cooking for anyone who would join them for a meal. She enjoyed playing cards with the Earlville ladies. She loved her grandsons, keeping them in line, spending time with her great-grandchildren, showing them some of the "old ways," and her new grandson that she was just getting to know.

Eileen is survived by her children, Susan Schulte and Don (Janice) Bildstein, both of Earlville; four grandsons, Scott (Laura) Schulte of Farley, Jay (Jillian) Schulte of Cedar Rapids, Chris Schulte of Earlville and Henry J. Bildstein (named after Grandpa) of Earlville; four great-grandchildren, Sylva, Asher, Jax and Gunnar Schulte; adopted daughter, Dianne Steffen, and her daughters, Stephanie, Missy (Jeff) Kremer, Nichole and Amanda (Terry) Willenborg of Dyersville; one sister, Ethel Sperfslage of Manchester; and sisters-in-law, JoAnn Greiner of California, Olga Helle of Dyersville, and Ardella Hoffman of Dyersville.

Eileen was preceded in death by parents, Leo and Hilda Greiner; son-in-law, Ron Schulte; great-grandson, Jenner Schulte; siblings, Lawrence Greiner, Betty and Lavern Willenborg; brother-in-law, Richard Sperfslage; father- and mother-in-law, Clem and Oda Bildstein; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Esther and Gib Digman, Matt and Adella Bildstein, Marvin Helle and Monroe Hoffman.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque, especially Tim, and Oak Crest Manor for her wonderful care in her last day of life.

Please share a memory of Eileen at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.