Bio: Elmhorst, Eldred Warren (1933 - 2010)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 

Surnames: Elmhorst, Daniels, Heitke
 

----Source: William Elmhorst, (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) February 2010 
 

Elmhorst, Eldred Warren (3 August 1933 - 5 February 2010)

By Brother Bill               Read Isaiah 53

Eldred was born August 3^rd, 1933, to Henry Paul and Dorothy Alice (Daniels) Elmhorst. 
 

He was the first-born of twelve siblings, nine brothers and two sisters. Eldred was born in the Town of Pine Valley, just East of Neillsville on the "Struensee" farm. His parents were engaged in "farming on shares", a common practice in the years of "the great depression". He moved with his family to several farms in the Granton and Chili area, and attended the local country schools. The family then moved to Peaceful Pines Farm in 1945. Eldred worked on the farm, attended the Neillsville High School and graduated as Valedictorian of his class in 1951.   
 

Eldred was involved in the High School FFA program and raised a champion purebred bull which he named Ferdnand. After graduation Eldred left home and went to Rapid City South Dakota for a summer and worked on constructing a new motel.  (Motels were a new form of lodging in those days.) Eldred worked at many different jobs in his life; He worked for the Serv-Us Bakery out of Marshfield for some time. While there he would bring home piles of day-old bread and sweet rolls. He worked for Normington’s Laundry and would wash loads of clothes for the family. His longest form of employment was driving taxicab; he drove in Marshfield, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Denver Colorado and probably other cities. Eldred loved to drive and was most content behind the wheel of a car. At one time he worked for a film company showing a film in theatres around the country. Eldred’s first car, a 1939 Ford, was given to him by Grandma Daniels. Eldred later owned a 1950 Ford and drove the family to Tempe Arizona in December of 1953, and returned in May 1954. While there Eldred first worked in a citrus fruit packing plant and then was trained by Standard Oil to be a service station attendant; those were the days of "full service" gas stations and the attendants were required to be immaculate. Eldred had a passion for serving Jesus and was involved in many ministries. Eldred was active in the Tri-County For Christ association.  He transported the youth to Summer Bible Camps at Pigeon Lake and Riverside; He had a radio program on WCCN and also on a Little Rock Arkansas station. He founded the Triumphant Life Sunday School in Granton and funded schooling for sisters Rosemary and Judy at Prairie Bible Institute. Eldred also attended "Prairie" for several years to further his Christian education. Eldred married Ruby Heitke but that relationship was not to last. Eldred located in Kansas City, Missouri and he was there moved with compassion for the young Black Americans. He began bringing them home on visits to Peaceful Pines Farm to experience life away from the inner city. The parents, mostly single parent families, seemed to trust him as they permitted their children to go with him. One of those children, Cecil, is now a middle-aged man and he affectionately calls Eldred "My Dad". It was also in Kansas City where a man, who Eldred had befriended and was giving a ride, pulled a gun on him and shot him at point blank range in the head. The intent was to kill and rob him, as Eldred usually carried a roll of cash, but it was all for nothing; Eldred’s cash was in an inner pocket and was not found by the would-be thief. Needless to say Eldred survived and to the best of my knowledge Keith Mack is still in prison. That wound, however, left Eldred handi-capped on his left side. Eldred was something of an idealist and perfectionist. He wanted his accomplishments to be "top-notch." He tried to be the best in what he did. He gave "personalized" hymnbooks to the friends and attendees of Triumphant Life Sunday School, with their names inscribed on the cover. Eldred had the gift of music and could sing and play the piano and accordion. He was "self taught" and "played by ear". He must have had a "good ear" because he played marvelously and it was with his heart and soul. After Eldred was injured he still played the piano occasionally with one hand. The adversities of life became almost unbearable for Eldred and as he aged he became more reclusive. He took on the attire of a "hobo", a vagrant and a wanderer. He attempted to hide himself from his acquaintances but seemed appreciative for those who took time to visit with him. His life will not be forgotten as he affected many.

Eldred’s life could best be summed up by the old Negro Spiritual, "Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, Nobody knows but Jesus; Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen; Glory, Hallelujah.