Seymour Tribune 
Erwin Surenkamp 
1922 - 2009 

Erwin Surenkamp, 86, Seymour, passed away at 6:25 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2009, at Lutheran Community Home in Seymour after several years of illness.
Mr. Surenkamp was born July 25, 1922, in Seymour, the son of Edward and Sophie Krumme Surenkamp. He was a graduate of Shields High School, where he was awarded FFA State Farmer, in 1942. Mr. Surenkamp was a veteran of World War II, where he served in the European Theatre. He returned to the family farm, where he labored in love until his illness. He married Marietta Louise Koop at Immanuel Lutheran Church on May 1, 1949.
Mr. Surenkamp was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, where he served as superintendent of the preschool Sunday school for 47 years. He was a 50-year member of the Indiana Farm Bureau and served his local farm community on both the township and county Farm Bureau organizations. Erwin was also a member of the Jackson County Farm Bureau Co-Op, the Producers Marketing Board and the Jackson County Artificial Breeders Board. He was awarded the local FFA Honorary Chapter Farm Degree in 1986.
Mr. Surenkamp is survived by his wife of 59 years; a brother, Carl (Cathleen) Surenkamp; a brother-in-law, Ervin Hoevener; many nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and -nephews, all of the Seymour area.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by three sisters, Elvira Surenkamp, Melba Hoevener and Elsie Middendorf and her husband, Robert.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seymour, with the Rev. Ralph Blomenberg and the Rev. Philip Bloch officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Burkholder Funeral Chapel, Seymour, and from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Thursday at the church. Burial will take place at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery after the service, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 89, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925, Disabled American Veterans 47 and Vietnam Veterans 7, all of Seymour.