Born: January 17, 1931
Died: December 8, 2008
Services: A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 21, 2008, in the Chapel of Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4114 Allison, Des Moines, Iowa.
Visitation: Family will greet friends following the service.

Erwin Stoelk of Indianola, Iowa, passed away at Bright Kavanagh Hospice House in Des Moines on Monday afternoon. He was born in Carroll, Iowa, and spent his early years in Westside. It was here that he climbed to the top of the water tower as a very young boy. The family moved to Manning and on to Carroll. In 1945, Erwin, his mother, Ida (Hansen), and stepfather, Glenn Noe, moved to Waterloo where Erwin graduated from East High School in 1949.

He enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War and held a position that remains classified to this day. On November 10, 1945, while home on leave, he married Bonnie Jean Hicok, whom he had known since moving to Waterloo. After discharge from his honorable military duty, he attended Iowa State University, graduating in 1958 with majors in geology, anthropology, sociology, and English. During this time, daughter Jan was born.

The family moved to Brinkwood Road in Des Moines, and he began his career with the State of Iowa, working for Disability Determination Services. Son Jeff was born after moving to Des Moines. Before his retirement in 1991, Erwin held a number of national officer positions including NRA president.

After Jeff and Bonnie's deaths, Erwin moved to Indianola to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren. He enjoyed hunting in Wyoming with his son, Jeff, and his cousins; loved fishing, especially in Hawaii where he landed a Blue Marlin; golfing, traveling the world, and engaging in good-hearted mischief with his friends and family. More recently, he loved to spend time with the grandkids and Sassy. Everyone will miss the twinkle in his eyes that usually gave away the fact he was teasing someone.

Erwin had been an officer with the local American Legion branch and was a Mason with the Acanthus Lodge. He was a Y Indian Princess and Y Indian Guide leader, and was involved in many other professional and personal activities.

Survivors include his daughter, Jan; grandchildren, Angela Stoelk, Jake and Dani Leih, all of Indianola; and his niece, Candy of Washington State. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Bonnie; son, Jeff; mother, Ida; father, Lawren; sister Imogene; and all of his aunts, uncles, and cousins.