Eva M. Neikirk, 90, passed away Wednesday March 1, 2017 at Sunrise Senior Living in Gahanna, OH. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00PM on Saturday May 6, 2017 at the Nelson Funeral Home in Maddock, ND. Burial will take place at the Fron Lutheran Cemetery, rural Maddock, ND.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the charity of your choice in Eva's memory.

1 Peter 1:3-4 "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance – an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay."

Eva was born in Hazen, North Dakota on April 20, 1926. She was the youngest of 9 children of Matthaeus and Katharina (Weisz) Schwarz. She went to church and school through grade 8 In Hazen, North Dakota. She sat for her GED and attended Wartburg College in Iowa and received an Associates degree in Education. She served churches in Minnesota and North Dakota until she met Bjarne Odin Haugen. They married in 1956 in Minot North Dakota and had two children, Timothy Jon Haugen and Mary Kathryn (Haugen) Dunsmore. They moved to Ohio in 1962 and were married for 22 years until Bjarne's death in 1979. During this time, Eva worked as a medical transcriptionist and as an extraordinary homemaker. She was the world's best birthday party planner, room mother, back yard swimming pool life guard, cook, listener, seamstress and Sunday school teacher. All of these accomplishments were not about meeting the physical needs but it was how she was able to show her love for others.

She married Richard T. Neikirk in October 1983 and the family grew with the addition of Richard's two son's, Bruce and Steve Neikirk. Through the years her family has continued to grow to include, 1 son-in-law, 3 daughters-in law, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Her interests also grew as she became an amazing artist, wood cutter, prolific reader and quilter. Eva was extremely intelligent and always willing to learn new things whether it was investment management or arts and crafts. She loved visits from family which often included painting lessons for her grandchildren. She was married to Richard Neikirk for 33 years until her passing.

Eva's greatest legacy was her faith in God. Her love for the Lord and the many hours she spent in prayer on behalf of her family will continue to impact those who were in her presence. Whether it was family devotions, night time prayers or reassuring us that "He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own" (from "In the Garden") she built a home that was built on the Foundation of serving God and others. (Matthew 25:21) "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!

Eva is survived by her husband of 33 years, Richard Neikirk; children, Tim (Cheryll) Haugen, Mary (Tim) Dunsmore; step-children, Steve (Cindy) Neikirk, Bruce (Lisa) Neikirk; grandchildren, Samantha, Caleb, Cassie, Erin, Jared, Evan, Conlin, Josiah, Lucas, and Trevor; great-grandchildren, Brynley, Gracie, Ansley, and Carleigh; sister, Pauline; sisters-in-law, Selma (Haugen) Black and Florence (Haugen) Wold; and many treasured nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Bjarne Haugen; brothers Emil, Martin, Wilhelm, Bernhard, and Richard; sisters Helen and Mary.