MALCOLM EATON - The last person of the triumvirate that founded Micro Switch in 1937, Malcolm W. Eaton, died at 3 a.m. today in Freeport Manor Nursing Home after a prolonged illness. According to Micro Switch officials, continued devotion to the unique value of every employee characterized Eaton’s career in Freeport. Even when the Honeywell division changed from an employer of hundreds to thousands, he was reputed to know the first names of most. From the earliest days with cofounders W. B. Schulte and A. L. Riche, Eaton’s dedication to the people of the fledgling company set the pattern that brought Micro Switch closely into the life of the Freeport community. Although his first title was secretary-treasurer, Eaton was known as “Mr. Inside.” For many years he was responsible for manufacturing, engineering, purchasing, quality control and personnel. He secured 10 patents in the process. When he retired in 1965, after 31 years with Micro, Eaton was a Honeywell divisional vice president. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, August 10, 1900, son of Lester and Alice (Webster) Eaton. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in engineering in 1924. After working in production, engineering, and quality control departments for the Rock Island Railroad and steel companies throughout the Midwest for 10 years, Eaton came to Freeport in 1934 to join the engineering department of the C. F. Burgess Laboratories. Two and a half years later he joined Schulte and Riche as the youngest executive in the spin-off that became Micro Switch. When he retired in 1965, Eaton credited the success story of Micro Switch to management’s determination to move ahead steadily on “sound business principles,” to imaginative engineering, to the crucible of the Depression years, to a share of good luck, and to high morale. He compared working for a dynamic company to playing on a winning team. Eaton married Mary Harriet Griffin in Aledo in 1938. Mrs. Eaton died in 1973. Surviving are three children, Robert Bruce of Rockford, Ann Elizabeth of Boston, and Mrs. Frank (Harriet) Furst of Freeport; five grandchildren; and three sisters, Mrs. Glenn (Dorothy) Strobridge of Waterloo, Iowa, Mrs. Thomas (Marge) Hughes of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. William (Claire) Seely of Freeport. A second son, John Malcolm, died in 1949. Eaton was a former board member of the Associated Employers of Illinois and a member of the Illinois Manufacturers Association. He was active in the Freeport Chamber of Commerce and numerous civic activities. After retirement, he became the first manager of the Sheltered Workshop program. A private funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Walker Mortuary, with the Rev. Earl Christman, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. There will be no visitation. Friends may attend the burial in Oakland Cemetery. A memorial has been established for the Sheltered Workshop.
Contributed by Alice Horner

MARY HARRIET (GRIFFIN) EATON - 1572 W. Lincoln Blvd., died Thursday night, July 12, 1973, in Freeport Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. She was a member of First Presbyterian church, Daughters of the American Revolution, Amity Society, and the Girl Scouts. Mrs. Eaton graduated from Ward Belmont in Nashville, ten., and Martha Washington Seminary in Washington, D. C. Born July 1, 1912 in Macomb, she was the daughter of Truman and Edith (Cabeen) Griffin. She was married to Malcolm W. Eaton September 3, 1938 in Aledo. Surviving are her husband; two daughters, Mrs. Frank E. (Harriet) Furst of Freeport, Miss Ann Elizabeth Eaton of Galesburg; a son, Robert B. of Rockford; five grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Sheldon (Betty) Allen of Grosse Ile, Michigan; and a brother, Robert C. of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was preceded in death by a son, John, who drowned in 1949, a brother, and her parents. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Earl Christman, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. There will be no visitation. A memorial fund has been established for the Amity Society of Freeport.
Contributed by Alice Horner - Freeport Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois July 13, 1973

RUTH DENA (EICKMANN) EICKMAN , formerly of 1655 S. Chicago Avenue, Freeport died Wednesday at the Stephenson Nursing Home. Seward resident - moved to Freeport in 1947. Member of 2nd Presbyterian Church, Eastern Star and White Shrine of Jerusalem. Born July 2, 1891 in Republic County, Kansas, daughter of Fred and Ida Eickman [Eickmann]. She married Harry Eickman on March 12, 1913 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He died June 7, 1963. Survivors include one sister, Lily Priefert of Wakeeney, Kansas; one granddaughter and four great grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one sister and 3 brothers. Burial in Twelve Mile Grove Cemetery, Pecatonica.
Contributed by Virginia Gorton Bonne - [excerpt Freeport Jl Std, Thurs. 6 Oct 1983]

ALBERT N. EITSERT - Word was received by Charles Diestelmeier, Lena, of the death of his son-in-law, Albert Eitsert, at Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon, August 9, 1938, after an extended illness. Services were held this afternoon at the home of the deceased and the body will be brought to Lena Thursday morning. A short service will be held at the Diestelmeier home Thursday afternoon at 1:30, with services at 2 o’clock at the Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church near Eleroy, Rev. Paul Reichert officiating. Interment will be made in Salem Cemetery. Mr. Eitsert is survived by his wife and a son.
Contributed by Alice Horner - Freeport Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois Wednesday, August 10, 1938
Alice Horner’s note: Sometime after 1938, the Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church, located between Eleroy and Lena, parallel to and just north of Route 20, changed its name to the Salem United Church Of Christ, and the cemetery also changed its name to Salem United Church of Christ Cemetery. Mr. Eitsert married Dora Diestelmeier on May 13, 1903 in Stephenson County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Charles and Catherine (Baldauf) Diestelmeier, and born November 23, 1884. She died November 30, 1970 in Winona County, Minnesota.

LYDE (WHITEHILL) ELDER , died Saturday night, March 6, 1971 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George E. (Louise) Guenzler, 1892 Woodside Drive, where she resided. Mrs. Elder, who died following an extended illness, was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Stewart Circle of King’s Daughters in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, daughter of William and Annie (Berlin) Whitehill. ON June 25, 1907 she was married to William L. Elder in Chicago. He died February 27, 1961. Surviving besides Mrs. Guenzler are a son, Stewart W. of Des Moines; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. B. W. Elder of Jamestown, North Dakota. Graveside service will be Tuesday in Des Moines. A memorial fund has been established for First Presbyterian Church. There will be no local visitation.
Contributed by Alice Horner - Freeport Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois Monday, March 8, 1971

WILLIAM L. ELDER , resident of Freeport for the past four months, died in his home, 202 ½ W. Main Street Monday night, February 27, 1961. He was the father of Mrs. George Guenzler, Freeport. He formerly lived at Des Moines, Iowa, for many years. He was born in Hamilton, Illinois June 21, 1874, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Elder. His marriage to Lyde Whitehill took place June 25, 1907. For many years he had been engaged in the livestock commission business. Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Mrs. George (Louise) Guenzler; one son, Stewart of Des Moines, Iowa; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Edgar B. of Chicago and Byers W. of Jamestown, North Dakota. Service will be in Dunn’s Funeral Home, Des Moines at 3 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Gardens at Des Moines. Arrangements were made at the Walker Mortuary.
Contributed by Alice Horner - Freeport Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois Tuesday, February 28, 1961

SADIE EMERICH , 70, passed away Wednesday at her home, 318 North Van Buren Avenue, following an extended illness. Miss Emerich was born in Dakota Township on July 11, 1864, the daughter of George and Lydia (Daughenbaugh) Emerich. She is survived by three sisters, Mrs. John Bolender of Orangeville, Mrs. F. A. Gochnaur of Freeport, and Mrs. Ada Hullermeier of Freeport, and two brothers Boyd Emerich of Dakota and Orlando Emerich of Freeport; one niece and four nephews. Her parents, two brothers and two sisters preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o’clock Friday afternoon at the Walker Mortuary, Dr. E. A. Arends will officiate, and burial will be made in the Rock Grove Cemetery. Bearers will be Emanual Brubaker, Edward Wagner, Samuel Arnold, Russell Phillips, Albert Dittman, and L. D. Fowler. Friends may call at the Walker Mortuary. Alice Horner’s note: Sadie Emerich married John Easter Lebkicher on January 1, 1896, but they were divorced sometime between 1910 – 1918. She returned to using her maiden name.
Contributed by Alice Horner - Freeport Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois January 13, 1944

EMILY (DAVIS) ENTORF , of Chicago, died this morning at 8:30 o'clock of convulsions at the home of Mrs. Margaret Entorf, 173 Oak Street. Mrs. Entorf had been an invalid with creeping paralysis the past five years. She came here from Chicago two weeks ago. The deceased was born June 22, 1870. Ten years ago she was married to Charles W. Entorf, a former Freeports, whose death occurred a month ago. She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Hunter of Indianapolis, and a brother, Robert Davis, of Chicago. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Rev. F. A. Hoefner to officiate.
Contributed by Virginia Gorton Bonne - (Freeport Weekly Democrat, Fri. 2 May 1902, p3 c6)

LOUISE A. ENTORF - Shannon, Ill., May 13.—Following an illness extending over a period of about five months Miss Louise A. Entorf, 55, of Rochelle, passed away about 6 o'clock Tuesday evening at the home of her sister, Mrs. C. H. Terpening, of Shannon. Her death was due to a complication of ailments. Deceased was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on January 21, 1876. During the early years of her life she moved to Freeport where she resided for a number of years, going to Rochelle where she conducted a millinery store for a period of about sixteen years prior to her death. She was visiting at the home of her sister in Shannon when she was taken ill some months ago. She is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Terpening, of Shannon, Mrs. W. H. Balluff, of Chicago, and Mrs. C. B. Weeks of San Diego, Calif. Her parents preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held...Thursday afternoon from the home of Mrs. Terpening in Shannon, with the Rev. Frank A. Campbell, pastor of the Rochelle Presbyterian church, of which she was a member, officiating. The body will be taken to Freeport and burial will take place in the city cemetery.
Contributed by Virginia Gorton Bonne - (Freeport Journal-Standard, Wed. 13 May 1931, p16 c6)

MARGARET (ALBRECHT) ENTORF - widow of the late Charles Entorf and former resident of Freeport, passed away at her home in Rochelle last evening following a lingering illness. Funeral services will be conducted there Friday and the remains will be brought to Freeport for interment in the city cemetery. Margaret Albrecht was born at Ackerville, Wis. on December 17, 1849. She was united in marriage to Charles Entorf, who passed away a number of years ago. The family resided here until about five years ago when they moved to Rochelle, since making their home there. She is survived by the following daughters: Mrs. Chas. B. Weeks, Santiago, Cal; Mrs. Wm. Balluff, Chicago; Miss Louise Entorf, Rochelle; Mrs. Chas. Terpening, Forreston. One brother, Wm. Albrecht resides at Carpenter, Iowa.
Contributed by Virginia Gorton Bonne - (Freeport Daily Journal-Standard, Thurs. 17 Feb 1927, p5 c3)