Elliot Linafelter, 51, of Sioux City passed away unexpectedly Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Al McCoy officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith Larkin Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com.
Elliot was born Feb. 27, 1956, in Sioux City, to Donald E. and Maxine (Francisco) Linafelter. He grew up and attended school in South Sioux City, graduating in 1974 as a member of the National Honor Society. He also received an appointment to West Point Military Academy following his high school graduation. He went on to attend Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., receiving a bachelor of arts degree in math and computer science.
He married Jean A. Shadbolt in South Sioux City on April 5, 1986. He moved back to the Sioux City area in the early '80s and had been a resident here ever since. He was employed with Beermann Brothers Dehy in Dakota City during his high school and college summer vacations. After college, he worked for the city of Sioux City from 1980 to 1998 as a senior system analyst. He was currently employed at Great West Casualty as a senior data base administrator.
He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church.
In his death, he gave the gift of life as an organ donor. He currently served on the board of directors at the Municipal Credit Union since 1992, serving as a chairman of the credit and personal committee. He was a former board member of the Big Soo Chapter of the D.P.M.A. He participated in the Nebraska East-West Shrine Bowl that was held at Memorial Stadium in August 1974. He was a Siouxland Community Blood Bank donor of 11 and one half gallons. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and recently became a U.S.A. Swim meet official. He was a Nebraska Husker fan.
Survivors include his wife, Jean of Sioux City; a daughter, Allison Ann Linafelter of Sioux City; his parents; two brothers, James E. Linafelter and his wife, Terri of Sergeant Bluff and Paul E. Linafelter of South Sioux City; niece and nephews, Jonna Sherlock of Emerson, Neb., Dakota and Brock Linafelter of Sergeant Bluff, Daniel Sherlock of Emerson, Neb. a sister-in-law, Joan Moore of Lincoln, Neb.; father and mother-in-law, Arden and Margaret Shadbolt of Pender, Neb.; and aunts and uncles, Skip and Deb Francisco of Arizona, Vicki Lyons of Sioux City, Carl Lyons of Vermillion, S.D., and Marjorie Pridie of Kansas City, Mo. and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Erin Jean Linafelter; and his grandparents, Clarence and Ella (Messerschmidt) Francisco and Elmer and Edna (Trask) Linafelter.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family for his daughter's, Allison, education.
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Leave a tributeGW remember you too...especially at this time.
He could do anything, and would for anyone.
We were truly blessed to have him in our lives!
Not a day goes by that we don't think about him, and smile.
I still think of him stopping by & standing in my office just staring at me and waiting for me to notice him & I'd jump when I knew someone was there & he'd laugh.
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Many memories today - one I remembered - when he was in the eighth grade,Elliot put paneling upstairs did it all himself, and in the process cut his hand by his little finger with the power saw, and never said anything about it. When we were coming home from my grandparents on Thanksgiving, several days later, he complained about his hand hurting, and there it was! A big red streak going up his arm! Of course, that meant a doctor's visit at the hospital and antibiotics. So typical - keeping things to himself and thinking he could handle everything by himself. Even though it is another year added, there is something - it seems like everyday - that brings back vivid memories. Take care and take it one day at a time.
What an a nice memorial. I am sitting here with many tears, as well as many thoughts. When I was over to the house this afternoon, I went into the garage and saw his tools, and felt as though he was right there, puttering, and messing around. Then I saw his red Huskers cap on the work bench, and thought of all the times he hollered or cussed at the football games in progress.
We all have many thoughts and reminders of all the times we had good and bad, and that we can't go back to the way things were, but we go ahead, sometimes, it is only one day at a time.