Werner "Ike" Eugster

Werner was born September 16, 1933 in Springdale, Wisconsin to Hans (John) and Bertha Eugster, Swiss immigrants who learned to speak English from their four children, Wilma, John, Werner, and Lois. They bought their own farm and moved to Oregon Wisconsin when Werner was a young child where he learned to farm and milk cows alongside his “Pa” and “Ma” and two horses pulling a plow.

Werner attended the Red Brick country schoolhouse elementary and then Oregon’s High School (class of 1951) where he played football, and “hooky-from-the-farm,” for fun.

He was a hardworking, fun loving and creative man; dedication to his family was in his DNA, everything he did was for them. He was an Army Veteran, stationed at Japan’s Mount Fuji. After finishing his first year in the army training above the tree line in deep snow, Werner decided to test the skills he’d learned in high school and tried out for and made the army football team because playing quarterback in exotic places for the army sounded like the right job for him.

Ike met his lifelong love Carol at one of his best friend’s wedding, where Ike was best man and Carol was maid of honor. They were married for 60 years. When Carol passed in 2017, Ike carried her spirit and love with him, and in everything he did for his family.

Ike's work ethic was unmatched and because of his problem-solving abilities, mechanical ingenuity, physical and mental strength and agility, and being an engineer, he received promotions that allowed him to pursue innovative ideas and technologies in agri-business. He was a dynamic and trustworthy force, people gravitated towards him, and he met them with open kindness and respect, he was easy to smile and share laughter.

Ike got married after his years serving in the army and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where he again played football this time as quarterback for the Wisconsin Badgers. Upon graduating from the University, he left the farm life and started a desk job moving his family to Illinois where he built his first house. He always found time to enjoy golf, take his kids to the pool and Friday night bowling league, take a train ride to the cubs game, coach little league and football, and make drive away vacations in the Dodge Coupe full of pillows and no seat belts to see far away relatives or the mountains, bravely navigating on curvy, perilous roads, by "following his nose". Life with Dad felt so safe and exciting at the same time.

Ike and Carol loved golf, and so they decided to live on a golf course the rest of their lives. Together they would travel in a motor home and wander the country following the Badgers to the Rose Bowl and playing golf at all the great courses for months at a time, visiting friends who’d wandered just as far along the way.

Ike loved time with his family and he and Carol would often hop in the car to drop in for a visit, or to help with a project, replacing a roof or building a dollhouse. They were always there to celebrate an achievement, performance, a backyard campfire or a bowl of popcorn. We all agree, Ike’s early retirement at 55 was truly his gift to us, he was always there, turning everyday moments into memories.

Werner is survived by his sisters, Lois Eugster and Wilma Olson, his daughter and sons, Pamela Eugster, Steven Eugster and his wife Karen Eugster, and Robert Eugster and four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

An evening visitation will be held at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, located at 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64131, on December 12, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Another visitation is scheduled for December 15, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, at the same location. This will be followed by a Celebration of Life with Full Military Honors from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

The committal will take place at Mount Moriah Cemetery South, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm on December 15, 2025.

A reception will be held at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on December 15, 2025.