Eldon Merle Wright

Eldon Merle Wright, age 81, of Saint James, Minnesota, passed away on June 20, 2025, at Hillcrest Rehabilitation Center in Mankato.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Saint James, with visitation beginning one hour prior. Officiating will be Rev. Andrew Hermodson-Olsen and Rev. Joy Ekstedt. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Saint James. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home of Saint James. Online condolences may be shared at www.sturmfh.com.

Eldon was born on October 19, 1943, at St. James Hospital to Ervin and Evelyn (Sorensen) Wright. He attended local schools and graduated from Saint James High School in 1962. After completing a boiler operations program in Mankato, he went on to serve as a chief engineer and boiler inspector.

On November 24, 1962, Eldon married Joline Karau at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Saint James. Together they raised three children: Keith, Jodie, and Tammy. Eldon lived in the Saint James area until February 9, 2023, and devoted his time to both work and community.

He was a proud member of the boards of Watonwan Game & Fish and Pheasants Forever. He enjoyed farming, woodworking, repairing just about anything, and a good game of Bingo. He worked for Pleasantview Nursing Home for 30 years as Maintenance Supervisor and spent the final two decades of his career at Crystal Valley Coop, where he hauled grain and handled various responsibilities.

Eldon is survived by his wife, Joline; children, Keith (Peggy) Wright, Jodie (Lance) Sletta, and Tammy (Chad) Ekstedt; grandchildren, Dylan (Ashleigh) Wright, Michelle Aspelund, Tommy Aspelund, Kelsey (Caleb) Paarmann, Cassidy Ekstedt, and Carson (Alyssa) Ekstedt; step-grandchildren, Aaron, Ben, and Shawn; great-grandchildren, Harleigh Wright, Grayson Aspelund, Wallace Paarmann, Evelyn Paarmann and baby Paarmann due soon; step-great-grandchildren, Peighton, Caleigh, Hailey, Aubrey, and Benson. He is also survived by his sister, Eunella (Nellie) Wright; and numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Evelyn; brothers, Elwood and Everette; sisters, Eunice (Delbert) Wiederhoeft, Elaine (Bill) Panzer, and Eldora (Clifford) Wolle; brothers-in-law, Marvin Karau, Ralph Karau, Harley Ratike, Delbert Wiederhoeft, Harold (Archie) Voelker, and Barry Friesen; and sister-in-law, Lucy (Archie) Voelker.