Elton L. Eisele

Elton L. Eisele was born in the military base hospital at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas to Edward Dean Eisele and Goldie Bessie Eisele (nee Easterly) on November 13th, 1952, after their return to the States following being stationed at Furstenfeldbruck, Germany.

Elton was the second of four brothers; Dean Jr., David C. both deceased, and Daniel (Zena) of Newcastle Wyoming. Due to his father being military and FAA, the family moved around often, living in Kansas City MO, Albuquerque NM, Wyoming, Alexandria VA, Little Rock AR, Fort Worth TX, and Slidell, LA.

He attended Thomas Edison High School in Alexandria VA and graduated in 1971 from Hall High School in Little Rock AR. One of his summer jobs in college was training dolphins, a killer whale and a chimpanzee at Seven Seas Marine Life Park in Arlington TX. Although it was just a summer job, it led to a lifelong passion for dolphins and developed many of his future teaching techniques.

After graduating from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville AR, in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in music education, (Tuba and Violin) he moved to Chicago with the intention of playing professionally and with the Chicago Civic Orchestra. His teaching degree quickly led to High School positions, beginning with private lessons and gymnastic coaching at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL, where he met another teacher, Nancy L. Smith, his future wife of 43 years, when they were assigned together to coach Pom & Cheer teams.

He later moved on teaching and coaching positions at Arlington High School, Downers Grove North High School, Rolling Meadows High School, Conant High School and ultimately Niles North High School in 1983 where he remained for 29 years as the Band Director until his professional retirement as a Music Educator after winning many state and national awards. While teaching, he also earned his master’s degree in music from Vandercook College of Music.

Once he was done teaching music, he turned his professional interests to his passion of flying. While he was a teacher, he earned his Pilot’s license, and a Flight instructor’s rating along with other flight ratings. Elton and Nancy met in May 1979 and married on July 26, 1981 in Palatine, IL. After six years of travel and career building, they began having children and more children, ultimately having four sons; Jonathan William, Michael Elton (Kelsey Pellus), Christopher Logan and Brian Joseph.

They continued to travel and take the boys on many vacations and band trips. With four boys involved in multiple sports, he rarely missed an event, and coached baseball teams for his sons, as well as being involved in Boy Scouts and Civil Air Patrol. The EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh Wisconsin was a family “must” each summer and Elton started his attendance and participation at the airshow in 1982, continuing every single year since.

He volunteered in many roles there and was one of the Chairmen of the show along with beginning the EAA Band and serving as the Band Director. As an extension of flying, he also enjoyed making weather observations. Another retirement hobby that meant so much to him was being a CBS Weather Watcher and having his weather reports and photos included on Channel 2’s broadcasts.

He was a loving father, an excited Grandfather to Joey, a devoted Christian and member of Willow Creek Community Church, proud American, aviator, musician, educator, coach and leader who touched countless lives through all his passions. He was a lifelong St Louis Cardinal’s fan and diehard Packer fan. Even during his struggles with dementia in the past few years, he could still identify any aircraft, tell his wife his weather reports, cheer on his teams with his sons, and rant about the Cards pitching rotation.

As anyone who knew him would attest, he marched to the beat of his own drum and lived his life with joy and unshakeable passion. Especially toward the end of his life, he was a social butterfly and would eagerly strike up a conversation with anyone, anytime, anywhere. He loved telling anyone who would listen about his family, sports teams and favorite movies. In all his vocations and hobbies, he shaped, influenced and touched countless lives and will be dearly missed.

Elton passed away on March 24, 2025. Services will be provided by Glueckert Funeral Home. Visitation will be on March 30, 2025, from 3:00 – 8:00 PM. Visitation will continue on March 31, 2025 from 9:00 – 10:00 AM. The funeral service will follow at 10:00 AM at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights following the service.