Henry Phillip (Phil) Eriksen, 85, of Omaha NE Formerly of Tekamah and Craig NE

Henry Phillip (Phil) Eriksen was born December 30, 1929 to Henry and Violet (McPherson) Eriksen at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.  He passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha after a brief illness.

Phil was raised on a farm southwest of Craig, Nebraska and attended Craig Public schools graduating from high school in 1948. After graduation he farmed and was a part time trucker until enlisting in the Army in January 1952.  He served as the records clerk for a training camp until his discharge in December 1953.

On October 1, 1950, Phil was married to Letha Hansen in Oakland, Nebraska. They lived most of their lives on a farm 2 ½ miles south of Craig until health issues forced his retirement from farming in 1995. In early 1996 they moved to Tekamah, Nebraska where Phil served as Burt County’s Veteran Service Officer from the fall of 1992 until the fall of 2012. They moved to Omaha in September 2012 where he resided until his passing.

He enjoyed boating, vacationing with family and spending time with his grandchildren.

Phil was a member of the Craig and Tekamah American Legion, the Tekamah Masonic Lodge, Omaha Scottish Rite, Tangier Shrine and the Tekamah United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Brad Herting, and granddaughter Jessica Herting.

Survivors include his wife, Letha of Omaha; two sons and daughter-in-laws: Mike and LaDonna Eriksen of Omaha, Pat and Marcia Eriksen of Sioux City, IA; daughter: Barbie Herting of Omaha; eight grandchildren: Dan Eriksen of Omaha, Amanda (Chris) McDonnell of Orland Park, IL, Bethany Eriksen of Phoenix, AZ, Leila Eriksen of Sioux City, IA, Russ (Libbi) Herting of Omaha, Brandon, Justin and Jenny Herting of Omaha; two great grandchildren: Campbell and Lila McDonnell of Orland Park, IL; sister: Marge Sommerer of rural Craig; brother and sister-in-law Jim and Phyllis Eriksen of Grand Island.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Monday, March 30, 2015, 10:30 am, at the United Methodist Church, Tekamah, NE. WITH MILITARY HONORS by VFW Bataan Post No. 3304 and American Legion LaFrenz Post No. 15 and American Legion Post No. 127.

VISITATION: Sunday, 5 – 7 pm with family receiving friends at Pelan Funeral Services in Tekamah. Visitation Monday will also be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Craig Cemetery, at a later date

MEMORIALS: To the family with memorials to be designated at a later date.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com

H. Phil Eriksen