August 9, 1926 – December 14, 2020

Adrian J. Ekdom, 94 of Sioux Falls, S.D., died December 14, 2020, at Good Samaritan Luther Manor, Sioux Falls. Public visitation was on Friday, Dec. 18, at George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 7:00 p.m., also at the funeral home. Burial took place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, at West Lawn Cemetery, Orange City, Iowa.

Adrian John Ekdom was born on August 9, 1926, to John and Hattie (Visser) Ekdom at Hawarden, Iowa. The family later moved to Ireton, Iowa, where Adrian received most of his education and worked in his father’s implement shop. In his youth he confessed Christ as his Lord and Savior, attending the Ireton Christian Reformed Church.

He graduated from Ireton High School Class of 1944. Adrian attended Northwestern College in Orange City, interrupting his education to join the Army, serving in both theatres, the Pacific and Europe, during WWII. His company was en route on the high seas to invade Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped, resulting in his remainder time serving with the occupational forces in Japan.

On his return from service, he attended and graduated from Northwestern College, The American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa, and spent several of his summer vacations, as well as night classes, in attending the School of Banking with the University of Wisconsin.

In 1948, he married Irene Van Zanten and they made their home in Des Moines where Adrian attended college and Irene worked as a stenographer. They later moved to Edgerton, Minn., where Adrian accepted employment with the State Bank of Edgerton for 36 years, later becoming its president. During this time he served on many community, church and school boards and for 15 years served as classical treasurer to the churches of tri-state area.

Adrian also served on the original board when Dordt College was organized in 1953, traveling to many night meetings to assess different locations. He is the last surviving member of the original Dordt College board. Adrian and Irene were privileged to spend some time traveling, spending winters in Arizona and Florida, and bicycling in Europe was a highlight of their retirement, also to the Holy Land. In later years, Adrian enjoyed bicycling, golfing, roller-skating, reading, walking at the mall, and playing pool at the Senior Center.

He was a member of Shalom Christian Reformed Church, served as a life-long Gideon member, a former Boy Scout Leader, and participated in many church boards and school boards. Adrian was an EMT and also served on the Edgerton Ambulance Association, American Legion for 65 years since 1949, and many other community boards.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Irene of Sioux Falls; children, Timothy Ekdom of Appleton, Wisc., Laurel (Glenn) Klamer of Martin, Mich., Byron (Sheri) Ekdom of Sioux Falls, Derek Ekdom of Chicago, Ill.; brothers, Stephen (Gerry) Ekdom of Orange City, and Donald Ekdom of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and one sister-in-law, Marie Ekdom of Pipestone, Minn.; 5 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.

Preceded him in death are his parents, John and Hattie; one brother, Wayne; and sister-in-law, Chris.