Eileen Schuett Ward age 96, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2018. Preceded in death by husband, Robert Ward and sons, John and Michael Ward.

Eileen was a solid member of the Greatest Generation. She was born in West Chicago, IL in 1921 and lived there until 1948 when she moved to South Dakota with her new husband Bob to run the Sioux Falls branch of Ward Lumber Company. At 26, Eileen was no stranger to business as she helped manage the family garage business with her father when her brothers left for WW II. Widowed at 49, Eileen was left to finish raising 4 sons. She completed her college education at Augustana College in 1972. She ran her own retail business, Bath Etc., at the Park Ridge Mall almost 20 years until retiring at 75. In 2012, Eileen moved to the Twin Cities to be near family.

A steady diet of crossword puzzles, chocolate and sheer determination kept Eileen mentally strong into her early 90’s. She was a Past President of Minnehaha La Sertoma Club, A Board of Trustee Member at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Chairperson of the Board at Lifescape and treasurer of the Prairie Tree Homeowners Association.

But beyond her strong professional skills, family was at the center of Eileen’s being. She lovingly cared for son John for over 60 years and loved nothing more than gathering with her boys and their spouses and families. She found great joy with her crazy clan from Chicago and loved spending time with them.
Eileen is survived by sister, Lorraine: sons, Steve (Martha) and Dick ( Sue); daughter-in-law, Maureen Duffin-Ward; 5 grandchildren, Nick ( Andrle), Joanna ( Oumar), Bobby, Michael & Griffin; and 2 great- grandchildren, Theo and Aye.

Memorial Service to be held on Saturday, September 8th at 5pm at Calvary Lutheran Church in Edina. Committal Service at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls on Monday, September 10th at 9:30 a.m.