Eileen was born April 5, 1962 in Omaha, Nebraska to the late Roy and Helen (Lund) Bauermeister. She was the youngest of three sisters and lived on the family farm near Arlington, Nebraska. Eileen was educated in St. Paul's Lutheran Church School and Arlington High School. She studied at Midland Lutheran College, Fremont Nebraska for one year, then transferred to and graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, where she was active in choir and a popular lead in music performances.
Eileen married Jan Tjeerdsma in 1988 and they had two daughters. She was a beloved vocal music and TAG teacher in Shelby-Tennant, Boyden-Hull, Sutherland, Cherokee, and Sioux Central School Districts, all in Iowa. She retired in 2017.
Eileen's beautiful voice brought joy and comfort to many wedding and funeral attendees. Her school music programs were legendary and ''Miss B'' and ''Mrs. T'' was dearly loved by her students.
She loved Jan and her girls beyond measure, and she was adored by her sisters' grandchildren for whom she was a second grandma.
Eileen was preceded in death by her parents. Cherishing her loving memory are her husband, Jan; children, Katherine (Kate) Betzel (Filipe) and Mary (TJ) Tjeerdsma; sisters, Brenda Groelz (Ned) and Nancy Penna (Gary), aunt, Edna Scheneman, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Friday, September 22, at First Lutheran Church, 3200 E Military Ave, Fremont, NE. Graveside services at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Omaha will be at 1:30pm. Visitation will be Thursday, September 21 at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont from 3pm to 7pm with the Family present from 5pm to 7pm. A time for sharing memories of Eileen will begin at 6pm at the mortuary.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD in her memory.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont in charge of arrangements.
The service will be recorded and the video posted here following the service.
To watch the service live the church will be streaming using their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FirstLutheranChurchFremontNE
Condolences(5)
Laura Hanna
Milford, IA Sunday, September 24, 2023 Dear Tjeerdsmas and to all who love Eileen-please accept my sympathy at this sad time. I met Eileen years ago in my music education journey and she always exuded joy and a love of music and those around her. Peace and prayers to you~Andrew Wurth
Marcus, IA Tuesday, September 19, 2023 Jan, I am very sad to hear the passing of your wife.Dianne Gordon
Cherokee, IA Sunday, September 17, 2023 Jan and girls,I was so sorry to hear of Eileen's illness. I enjoyed getting to know her, and working with her at the Cherokee Community Schools. You have my prayers. Dianne Gordon
Rod Shedenhelm
Sioux Rapids, IA Saturday, September 16, 2023 So sorry for your loss. She was a wonderful lady.Tara (Miller) Frickel
Atkinson, NE Saturday, September 16, 2023 Praying your happy memories will fill your hearts today and forever.🙏🙏🙏