Eldon was born on March 16, 1933, to Henry J. and Verna (Deckert) Warkentin in Dolton (Turner County), South Dakota.
After his mother died in 1935, he moved as a young boy to Mountain Lake, Minnesota, where he lived with his Warkentin grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles. As his aunt Anna recalled with a beaming smile, "we are so excited to have Eldon come and live with us." His dad remarried in 1940 and moved the family to Donald, Wisconsin. Eldon completed school in Donald, WI, and when circumstances changed, he was reunited with his grandparents in Mt. Lake, graduating from high school in 1952.
After completing one year of college, he entered a term of service with the Mennonite Central Committee in the fall of 1953. He spent time in Akron, Pennsylvania, Japan and South Korea before returning back to Mt. Lake in 1955.
Eldon married Esther Jean Buller on June 2, 1957. This marriage was blessed with 3 children, Colleen, Sharon and Dylan.
Eldon began his working career in Mt. Lake as a manager of the produce department at Franz store, then as a professional photographer for 7 years. He moved the family to Coon Rapids, Minnesota in 1967, where he developed an accounting and income tax business which included real estate services. He also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1995 and 1996.
Eldon accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in Donald, Wisconsin, at the age of 12. He was baptized into his faith at the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church in Mt. Lake by Rev. William Loewen at the age of 17. Eldon served the Lord on various boards and leadership roles for over 50 years.
Eldon is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Elanor Flaming; niece, Gail Flaming; nephew, Merlin Flaming; and numerous mentoring aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Esther, and their children, Colleen (Tim) Graber, Sharon (Jeff) Compton, Dylan (Sonja) Warkentin, Sister Doris (Tom) George; Grandchildren, Brian Graber (Sarah), Rachel Van Epps (Dain), Daniel Compton, Isaac Compton, Jacob Warkentin (Marie), Jordan Warkentin, Lindsey Barbosa (Ronaldo), Grant Warkentin; and 7 great grandsons: Logan, Avery and Martin Graber; Caleb and Silas Van Epps; and Micah and Ezra Warkentin.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 14th, 2025, at Pathways Community Church, 6341 167th Ave. NW., Ramsey, MN. Service at 11 am with visitation at 10 am. Interment at the Cornerstone Church (formerly the EMB) cemetery in Mt. Lake on June 16, 2025, at 11:30 am.
