Eleanor Louise Tasker

Eleanor Louise Tasker, 96, passed away on February 12, 2024, at a local assisted living facility. 

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 pm on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes Morningside Chapel, with a prayer service at 7 pm. Funeral service will be held at 10 am on Friday, March 1, 2024, at Faith United Presbyterian Church with Pastor David Koehler officiating. Funeral service will be livestreamed for anyone unable to be present at Faith United Presbyterian Church Facebook page. 

Eleanor was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on July 27, 1927, to Roy and Mary (Soderstrom) Everett. She attended Central High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Morningside College. Her love of music touched many young hearts at all the places she taught, such as Galva High School; the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grades 1 semester in Jackson, Nebraska; and the 8–9-year-olds in Mason City, Iowa. She also sang and played the organ for the church while in Mason City. She was a Drake Certified Suzuki piano teacher. She also taught Latin for 3-4 years at the Kukinski Academy. 

Eleanor continued to teach until, on June 1, 1951, she was united in marriage to Allen Edwin Tasker in Sioux City. The couple moved around due to Allen’s work, living in Sioux City, Mason City, and Storm Lake. Allen passed away on April 25, 2015; the couple had been married for 64 years.

Music and faith continued to be central to Eleanor throughout her life. She was raised at Whitfield Methodist Church, where she was a member for 76 years, and served at Faith United Presbyterian Church for 70 years. Eleanor started playing the organ at church when she was 17 years old. From then on, she continued to show her gift of music as she sang in the choir at St. James Methodist Church in Storm Lake for 7 years, played at First Methodist in Sioux City, was the organist for First Lutheran in South Sioux City for 26 years, and was the organist at Morningside Presbyterian Church for 26 years. Her dedication earned her the title Outstanding Organist in Morningside from Grace Methodist Church and the Distinguished Service Awards as pianist at Morningside Schubert Club for 59 years. Eleanor played handbells for 55 years and was the founder of the annual Twelfth Night Handbell Festival, which celebrated its 41^st concert in 2023. Eleanor was a pillar in her community, serving as the president of the Sioux City Women’s Club for many years and as a member of the Siouxland Singers Charter. 

She is survived by her son, Joel (Laura) Tasker of Sioux City, Iowa; daughters, Jill (Tom) Lovelace of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Jean (Tasker) Yohnke of Ames, Iowa, and Julie (Stan Cox) Tasker of Sioux City, Iowa; 9 grandchildren, Tyler (Susie) Tasker, Justin Tasker, Katie (Justin Lewis) Yohnke, Brenda (Jonathan) Herr, Grace (Dylan) Kor, Claire Lovelace, Nickolas (Emily) Noyes, Emilee (John) Shattuck, and Christian Noyes; and great-grandchildren, Easton and Logan Tasker, and Nickolas, Charlie, Jack, Leo, Everest, Paisley, Foster Noyes, Huxley and JT Shattuck.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Allen Edwin Tasker; son, Jeffrey Tasker; and daughter, Janet Tasker.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials in Eleanor’s name be given to St. Croix Hospice, 
 Faith United Presbyterian Church or Morningside College (now Morningside University) Music Department.