Paul Alfred Eichstadt, 88 of Wolsey, SD, died Friday, September 16, 2016 at Violet Tschetter Memorial Home in Huron.

His funeral service will be held Friday, September 23 at 10:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wolsey followed by interment at St. John's Cemetery.

Visitation will be hosted at Welter Funeral Home in Huron on Thursday, September 22 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Paul was born July 15, 1928, in Wessington Township, Beadle County, to Herman F. and Martha (Gogolin) Eichstadt.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wolsey.  He graduated from Wolsey High School in 1946.

As a boy, Paul worked on his parents' family farm and held several jobs working for relatives and local farmers.  When he was not working, Paul mail-ordered and studied books and literature to learn of progressive farming practices.  Paul shared his knowledge of such with his father and brothers who farmed in the area.

Paul enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.  He received his military training at Travis Air Force Base near San Francisco, Lowry Air Force Base in Denver and Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington.

Paul was stationed at Feamcom Air Force Base in Tachikawa, Japan. He was recognized for his exemplary contribution as an electronics and radar engineer in developing the Electronic Counter Measure defensive systems for Air Force fighters and bombers.

While in Denver, Paul met Vanieda Rosine Helene Schirmer, a native of St. Francis, Kansas.  Vanieda travelled aboard the SS President Cleveland from San Francisco to Tokyo in October 1952 to join Paul in Japan.  They married on November 24, 1952, in a Japanese civil ceremony in Tokyo before a Lutheran minister and the vice counsel of the American Embassy. Their first home was in Mitaka, Japan, a village near Feamcom Air Force Base.

Their first son, James, was born in Japan on October 4, 1953.  Paul and Vanieda rented their Mitaka flat from a young Japanese couple who had an infant daughter.  As young parents, the couples became good friends.  Paul and Vanieda learned of the Japanese lifestyle, traditions and language.

Following their return from Japan and Paul's honorable discharge, Paul and Vanieda purchased and moved to the former Hershman farm in Vernon Township near Wolsey.  When hard times came upon farming in the 1950's, they relocated to Colorado Springs.  Paul's brothers, Richard and Martin (and spouses) lived there and built homes.  Paul built homes in Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Denver for about five years.  Their second son, Kent, was born in Colorado Springs on June 16, 1957.

In August 1962, the family returned to South Dakota.  Paul and Vanieda wanted to resume their family farm and to raise Jim and Kent there.  Paul instilled a strong work ethic in his sons.

During Jim and Kent's years on the farm, Paul and Vanieda purchased the DeJager farm land and a farm on the Ninth Street road (site of the former Moeller home) in Vernon Township.  And they purchased their Charolais breeding herd in 1969.  The family's cow-calf, beef cattle and breeding bull operations expanded significantly in the ensuing years.  Paul and Vanieda's farms were dotted with white Charolais cattle.  In 2003, Paul sold his cattle herd.  Thereafter, Paul raised corn and soybeans and bought and sold farm machinery and trucks.

Family was important to Paul.  He enjoyed time with siblings and their children.  He loved farming and valued the relationships and trust that he established with ranchers, farmers and merchants in the area and in other states.  Paul had a special affinity of Clayton Jennings, renowned South Dakota rancher and author of Handshake: Code of the West .  As Jim published on dairy and agribusiness policy during his professional career, Paul and Jim shared a special bond.  Paul was fond of his Friday night conversations with Jim.

Paul was preceded in death by his son, James (2015); first wife, Vanieda (2001); parents; infant sister, Mary Alice; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert (Mildred), Richard (Evelyn), Fredrick (Caroline), Martin (Edith), Mark (Helen) and Dale.

He is survived by his second wife, Kathryn; son, Kent (Nancy McDermott, MD) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; granddaughter, Shaundra Eichstadt, MD, of San Francisco; daughter-in-law, Maureen (Borah) Eichstadt of DeForest, Wisconsin;  granddaughter, Natalie (William) Aldrich of DeForest; grandson, Erik Eichstadt of DeForest; sister, Dorothy Sibbers of Huron; sister-in-law, Delores Eichstadt of Wolsey; brother, Willis Eichstadt of Oregon; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Memorials are encouraged to St. John's Lutheran Church or to a Christian charity of your choice.