Scout packed life of giving into 14 years
By Tim Gallagher Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Scouts stand at atteention following the funeral service for Boy Scout Aaron Eilerts at St. Mary's Catholic Church in West Point, Nebraska, Monday, June 16, 2008. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)
WEST POINT, Neb. -- The boy who made pillowcases for sick children was buried Monday on a little hill in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Aaron Robert Eilerts, 14, was one of four Boy Scouts killed Wednesday when a tornado struck the shelter in which they huddled at Little Sioux Scout Ranch near Little Sioux, Iowa.
"Aaron loved to give away pillowcases to let people sleep peacefully knowing someone cared for them," the Rev. Gerald Gonderinger said to 450 family members, friends and Boy Scouts gathered at St. Mary's Catholic Church in West Point for the funeral Mass.
It was evident this young man cared for many.
He made fleece blankets for dogs at a humane society. He created table centerpieces to brighten a senior center in Eagle Grove, Iowa, where his family lived after moving from West Point three years ago.
He visited residents at an area nursing home and collected food for the hungry.
He packed a lifetime of giving into 14 years.
More than 90 Boy Scouts and their leaders attended Eilerts' funeral in uniform Monday. They sang the "Scout Vespers" as the funeral concluded, then gathered in front of the church to salute their junior leader as his body was carried away.
"In Iowa, Nebraska and throughout the entire nation there are few hearts so cold to not be touched by the tragedy at Little Sioux," Gonderinger said in his eulogy. "It is a parent's worst nightmare, losing an only child."
Eilerts' parents, Robert and Carol Eilerts of Eagle Grove, Iowa, helped arrange their only child's baptismal banner atop his wooden casket at the start of the service. When a funeral director made a slight readjustment, both smiled.
They sat in the front pew as Gonderinger spoke, gently holding one another as the choir and congregation honored their child -- a gifted soloist himself -- with songs such as "On Eagles Wings," and "Prayer of St. Francis."
"I wish there were words I could say to make this tragedy reasonable," Gonderinger said. "Here is a young man who found great joy in service. ... I cannot explain why such a giving person, one so full of promise, could be snatched from us."
The fact he was at Little Sioux Scout Ranch at the time of the Pahuk Pride Youth Leadership Training camp shows the promise his leaders and peers saw in him.
An Order of the Arrow sash crossed his bright red Boy Scout jacket at the back of the church. That sash, said Mark Custer, an official with the Mid-America Boy Scout Council, comes from peers, not adult leaders. It illustrates the reverence fellow Boy Scouts had for Eilerts.
A similar respect was shown for his family Monday as 30 members of the American Legion Riders stood at attention outside the church. They came from as far away as Ames, Iowa.
"I'm here to show them how big a family they do have," said Dennis Goff, an assistant scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 95 of Walnut, Iowa. "I've had Scouts at that camp for that training. I just didn't last week."
Goff, a military veteran, firefighter and EMT, said it was very difficult to stay home Wednesday as news reports of the devastation and injuries from the tornado trickled in.
Coming to the funeral was something he had to do.
Inside, Gonderinger said the tongues of angels wouldn't be enough to help him explain all this sorrow. He did his best through a story of Job who, in the Old Testament, lost everything he had. Through it all, Job kept his faith.
"The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away," Gonderinger said, quoting Job. "Blessed be the Lord."
Ultimately, Gonderinger said, that's probably not the answer we want. At times, it's all we have.
"We don't yet know what plants will be watered by these tears," he concluded. "We won't know on this side of eternity why this happened."
As folks from the packed church filed out, a funeral worker collected the citizenship citations and merit badges earned by this fallen Boy Scout. Aaron Robert Eilerts was shown in pictures. He sported a football uniform in one frame, braces in another. In every picture, he flashed a joyous grin.
The words kind, cheerful, friendly and loyal were written across his Boy Scout portrait. Powerful attributes for a boy only 14. But obviously, the qualities for a boy prepared to make his world a better place.
In that, there is no mystery.
Aaron Robert Eilerts, 14, was one of four Boy Scouts killed Wednesday when a tornado struck the shelter in which they huddled at Little Sioux Scout Ranch near Little Sioux, Iowa.
"Aaron loved to give away pillowcases to let people sleep peacefully knowing someone cared for them," the Rev. Gerald Gonderinger said to 450 family members, friends and Boy Scouts gathered at St. Mary's Catholic Church in West Point for the funeral Mass.
It was evident this young man cared for many.
He made fleece blankets for dogs at a humane society. He created table centerpieces to brighten a senior center in Eagle Grove, Iowa, where his family lived after moving from West Point three years ago.
He visited residents at an area nursing home and collected food for the hungry.
He packed a lifetime of giving into 14 years.
More than 90 Boy Scouts and their leaders attended Eilerts' funeral in uniform Monday. They sang the "Scout Vespers" as the funeral concluded, then gathered in front of the church to salute their junior leader as his body was carried away.
"In Iowa, Nebraska and throughout the entire nation there are few hearts so cold to not be touched by the tragedy at Little Sioux," Gonderinger said in his eulogy. "It is a parent's worst nightmare, losing an only child."
Eilerts' parents, Robert and Carol Eilerts of Eagle Grove, Iowa, helped arrange their only child's baptismal banner atop his wooden casket at the start of the service. When a funeral director made a slight readjustment, both smiled.
They sat in the front pew as Gonderinger spoke, gently holding one another as the choir and congregation honored their child -- a gifted soloist himself -- with songs such as "On Eagles Wings," and "Prayer of St. Francis."
"I wish there were words I could say to make this tragedy reasonable," Gonderinger said. "Here is a young man who found great joy in service. ... I cannot explain why such a giving person, one so full of promise, could be snatched from us."
The fact he was at Little Sioux Scout Ranch at the time of the Pahuk Pride Youth Leadership Training camp shows the promise his leaders and peers saw in him.
An Order of the Arrow sash crossed his bright red Boy Scout jacket at the back of the church. That sash, said Mark Custer, an official with the Mid-America Boy Scout Council, comes from peers, not adult leaders. It illustrates the reverence fellow Boy Scouts had for Eilerts.
A similar respect was shown for his family Monday as 30 members of the American Legion Riders stood at attention outside the church. They came from as far away as Ames, Iowa.
"I'm here to show them how big a family they do have," said Dennis Goff, an assistant scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 95 of Walnut, Iowa. "I've had Scouts at that camp for that training. I just didn't last week."
Goff, a military veteran, firefighter and EMT, said it was very difficult to stay home Wednesday as news reports of the devastation and injuries from the tornado trickled in.
Coming to the funeral was something he had to do.
Inside, Gonderinger said the tongues of angels wouldn't be enough to help him explain all this sorrow. He did his best through a story of Job who, in the Old Testament, lost everything he had. Through it all, Job kept his faith.
"The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away," Gonderinger said, quoting Job. "Blessed be the Lord."
Ultimately, Gonderinger said, that's probably not the answer we want. At times, it's all we have.
"We don't yet know what plants will be watered by these tears," he concluded. "We won't know on this side of eternity why this happened."
As folks from the packed church filed out, a funeral worker collected the citizenship citations and merit badges earned by this fallen Boy Scout. Aaron Robert Eilerts was shown in pictures. He sported a football uniform in one frame, braces in another. In every picture, he flashed a joyous grin.
The words kind, cheerful, friendly and loyal were written across his Boy Scout portrait. Powerful attributes for a boy only 14. But obviously, the qualities for a boy prepared to make his world a better place.
In that, there is no mystery.
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Clayton Hollister wrote on Jun 22, 2008 11:01 AM:
amom wrote on Jun 17, 2008 3:34 PM:
Some Asst. Scoutmaster wrote on Jun 17, 2008 3:13 PM:
Former Scout and Leader wrote on Jun 17, 2008 1:47 PM:
larryj wrote on Jun 17, 2008 9:14 AM: