Monday, January 30, 2006

Emil Huskamp

July 1, 1915 - January 20, 2006

Emil Huskamp, born on July 1, 1915 to Herman Huskamp and Olga Homrighouse Huskamp, in Fenton, Iowa, passed away January 20, 2006. Emil married his high school sweetheart, Hulda Wolder, in 1936. During their lives, Emil and Hulda made homes in Iowa, California, Idaho, and Washington. A Navy veteran of World War II, Emil earned his living as a cabinet maker and in maintenance work, first for St. Lawrence Martyr parish in Redondo Beach, CA, and later across the western US for the FAA. He excelled in the pursuit of his passionate interests: he grew orchids and African violets, which he sold commercially; planted and tended large vegetable gardens; and kept 100 bee colonies and marketed the honey. On his retirement, Emil and Hulda built a large and comfortable home entirely by themselves on a 10 acre ranch, which included a sandhill crane nesting location, in McCammon, Idaho.

Emil leaves to cherish his memory daughter Jean (Carrie) of Tacoma, sister-in-law Ardis Voigt Huskamp of Algona, Iowa, niece Trudy Huskamp Peterson (Gary) of Washington D. C., other family, and many friends. He was predeceased by his beloved Hulda, who passed away in October, 2004, and by his cherished brother Eugene. The family thanks everyone at Family First Adult Family Home for their loving care of Emil and Hulda. The family gratefully suggests remembrances be made, if desired, as donations in Emil’s memory to Heifer, www.heifer.org, an organization that is dedicated to helping people in poverty obtain a sustainable source of food and income. A gift of honeybees would be especially apt.