Eidsness Funeral Home
1617 Orchard Drive
Brookings, South Dakota 57006
Geneva Ackman
May 8, 1932 – November 4, 2014
Geneva Ackman, 82, of Brookings, SD, died Tuesday, November 4, 2014, at the United Living Community in Brookings, SD.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 8, at First Presbyterian Church in Brookings, with interment in Greenwood Cemetery.
Visitations will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Home.
Geneva was born on May 8, 1932, in Dubuque, Iowa, to John T. and Theresa “Lena” Gillespie.
She attended school in Dubuque, graduating from Dubuque Senior High School.
She subsequently earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dubuque.
She married Roger D. West following her graduation.
She taught briefly in military base elementary schools in Virginia during her husband’s enlistment in the United States Marine Corps, returning to teach in Dubuque.
Following her first husband’s untimely death, she married Hubert “Hugh” Ackman in 1962.
She taught elementary English in the Dubuque Public School system for a number of years.
She earned a Master’s Degree in Reading from Clarke College under the auspices of a federal program intended to produce reading clinicians/consultants for public K-12 education.
An outstanding student, she was awarded numerous academic scholarships and fellowships for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Geneva worked for the Brookings School District for many years as a reading consultant and she also taught ESL classes.
She interacted with hundreds of students during her time with the Brookings School District.
During her life, Geneva was an accomplished pianist, a lifeguard, figure skater and bowler.
She remained an avid bridge player throughout her life.
She was a formidable Scrabble player.
Geneva was also a fan of the Green Bay Packers, travelling to numerous games at Lambeau Field with her husband, Hubert.
She cherished her family and her grandchildren.
Her greatest joy in life was reading, and she spent the majority of her professional and personal life sharing that with her children, grandchildren and generations of students.
Geneva is survived by her three children: J.D. (Nicole) Ackman of Brookings, Cindy (Doug) Putnam of Rico, Colo., and Tammy (Tim) Thompson of Oswego, NY; as well as four grandchildren, including Hailey and Adam Thompson, of Oswego.
Geneva was preceded in death by her husbands; parents; a sister, Lucille Schueller; and a brother, Jack Gillespie.
Geneva’s family requests that memorial gifts be directed to the Brookings Public Library.
Visitations
Friday November 7, 5 – 8 p.m. at Eidsness Funeral Home
Funeral Services
Saturday November 8, 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church
