Rudolph Thomas Eikhof Obituary

Rudolph Thomas Eikhof attended Memorial High School in West New York, NJ. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Rudolph Thomas Eikhof.

Graduation Year	Class of 1938
Date of Passing	Jan 30, 2011
About	Obituary of Rudolph Eikhof Rudolph Tom Eikhof, longtime resident of Monroe NY, died on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at the age of 90. Born in Weehawken, NJ, March 9, 1920, the son of the late Rudolph C. Eikhof and Mary Ann Malloy Eikhof, and raised by his late step-mother Alma Hammer Eikhof, he was in the construction industry for a period of 60 years working primarily in heavy highway and building construction. He then worked as Job Superintendent and also Chief Estimator for several firms. During World War II, Tom proudly served in a U.S. naval construction battalion "SeaBees" and participated in three major island invasions in the Pacific arenas. He maintained a lifelong connection with the "SeaBees". A longtime active member of the Monroe United Methodist Church, he served on many committees and commissions including as a trustee for the Hudson West District of the NY Annual Conference of the Methodist Church. In the 1960s, the members of Tom's church recognized the need for more space for a growing congregation. Under Tom's supervision, he and his good friends, Johnny Heins, Dick Mainey, Joey Knape, Bill Dise, as well as others, spent -almost every weekend, and any free evening they could, constructing a new education building. When construction was completed, the church community made the decision to name the building the R. Thomas Eikhof Education Building as a way to honor Tom's amazing spirit of volunteerism, leadership and hard work. Tom was a member of the Architectural Appearance Review Board for the Village of Monroe, V.F.W. Harriman Post 8858, Disabled American Veterans, U.S. Naval Institute, U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, CEC/SeaBee Historical Foundation, National Maritime Historical Society, Nautical Research Guild and the National Trust for Historical Preservation. In retirement, he pursued his beloved hobby and became a master model ship builder. His museum quality model ships are the proud possessions of family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jean Elizabeth Eikhof (nee Stickels) whom he married on January 19, 1946, his son Thomas Eikhof and daughter-in-law Barbara Eikhof, daughter Kathleen Eikhof Phillips and son-in-law Orange County District Attorney Frank Phillips, brother Robert Eikhof, sister Dolores Mucha, sister- in-law Shirley Eikhof, sister-in-law Dorothy MacKillop and her husband Gordon, niece Dawn Eikhof, niece Laura Dolan and her husband Stephen Dolan, many wonderful cousins, friends and neighbors. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations to the Monroe United Methodist Church for the maintenance of the R. Thomas Eikhof Education Building, 47 Maple Avenue, Monroe, NY 10950. Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Thursday, February 3, at Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc, Funeral Home, 117 Maple Avenue, Monroe. A funeral service will be held at 10 AM Friday, February 4, at the Funeral Home with Rev. Kimberly Bosley officiating. Interment will follow in Seamanville Cemetery, Monroe.