Arthur Eikamp died last November after living a full and very rewarding life. His story as recounted in his memoir is remarkable. Please go to " local authors" section of this web site for details. He was a living legend in Langlois- noted for cutting down trees in his 90's and earlier would use a scooter to go the post office and so was familiar figure on Hyw 101.  So in tribute: his obituary and a wonderful poem  " Arthur" in a book of poetry: heart stuck open by LIlyMars, one of our own Langlois poets.

Sept. 23, 1918 – Nov. 5, 2016

A memorial service will be held for Arthur Raymond Eikamp, 98, of Bandon, at 2 p.m. Dec. 3, at the Langlois Community Church. Cremation rites have been held under the direction of Nelson's Bay Area Mortuary.

Arthur was born Sept. 23, 1918, in a newly built chicken coop on a farm in Gary, S.D., the son of John and Anna (Beving) Eikamp. He was the fifth and last surviving of six children: four sisters and one brother.

Growing up in the dust bowl years, Arthur learned frugality, ingenuity, and self-sacrificing (if you couldn’t make it, you did without it), and strong work and moral ethics from his devout Christian parents. After a life changing experience in his late teens he enrolled in Anderson College to study for the ministry. There he made life-lasting friendships, but it wasn’t until he was a student at Yale Divinity School that he met and married Norma Helen Blewitt from New York City.

The first two years of married life they lived out of a Jeep station wagon traveling from Minnesota to the Rio Grande Valley ministering to agricultural migrants and their families. In 1949 they received the call to go to Japan to help the Japanese church rebuild after the devastation of World War II and embark on a 35-year missionary career in that country. They had the privilege of seeing Japan rise from the ashes and rubble of defeat and U.S. military occupation to become the advanced nation that it is today. In 1984, before retiring from serving in Japan, Arthur was honored by Emperor Hirohito with a medal for extended service to the Japanese people.

After returning to the U.S. Arthur taught at Warner Pacific College in Portland, Ore., for two years. He then embarked on the adventure of building his own home in Langlois. They moved into the still unfinished house in 1987 and enjoyed working on the house, cutting trees and chopping firewood. Most of all he enjoyed teaching adult Bible class in church. About that time he decided to write his memoir and published the book “Sensei” in 2000.

Serving God in any place and at any time was Arthur’s purpose in life and his greatest joy. His closest ties to the community and friends came through the church.

Arthur is survived by Norma, his wife of 69 years; son, Daniel Eikamp, in Japan; five grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, including Roy Eikamp and his family of Bandon. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Mark in 2009.

Contributions in Arthur’s memory may be made for mission work in Japan to Church of God Ministries, c/o Benjamin Schular – Global Strategy, P.O. Box 2420, Anderson, Indiana 46018.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson's Bay Area Mortuary, 541-267-4216.