Thomas Harlan Eness, 95, died Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, at his home in Ontario.
He was born April 11, 1915, at Gilbert, Iowa, to Louis and Trena (Johnson) Eness. He married Elizabeth Olson on Dec. 15, 1940.
Tom attended schools in Ames, Iowa, before he started farming near Gilbert. In 1963, he purchased the Samuelson farm on Little Ridge, near Ontario, where he farmed and did some logging.
Survivors include three daughters, Esther (Vernon “Pete”) Peterson of Ontario, Ida (Eugene) Von Ruden of Norwalk and Ingeborg (John) Gerber of Ontario; three sons, Harvey (Judy) of Rockton, Eirik (Cheryl) of Ontario and Torvald (Debbie Law) of Ontario; 19 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, in 1993; his son-in-law, Orval Baldwin, in 1969; his parents; his brother, Eugene; and his sisters, Lucille Askevold and Dagmar Brown.
Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 3, at Mount Pisgah Wesleyan Church near Ontario, with Pastor Bob Streeter officiating. Burial was in Hilltop Rest Cemetery in Ontario. The Torkelson Funeral Home in Ontario assisted the family with arrangements.
We celebrate the life of Thomas, child of God, son of Norwegian American parents, lifelong farmer, loving husband to Elizabeth for 53 years, father to six children, Uncle Tommy to more, Grandpa Tom to 19, great-grandpa to 44, and friend to all!
