Ecklund, Joe 1880-1932

ECKLUND, ERICKSON, SHINE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/12/2012 at 11:17:58

Obituary dated March 4, 1932

JOE ECKLUND IS BURIED IN BROOKLYN

(From The Brooklyn Chronicle)

Joe Ecklund, one of the boys who spent most of his youth here in Brooklyn, died Sunday, Feb. 21, at his home in Union, Ia. Many friends in Brooklyn were shocked to hear of his death which occurred following a short illness from pneumonia.

Joe Ecklund was born at Moline, Ill., Nov. 16, 1880. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Ecklund. When the boy was five years old his parents moved to Brooklyn where he grew to manhood. He was a popular boy always and many friends recall the quartet of young men in Brooklyn who sang together so beautifully. They were Coe Manatt, Dr. E.J. Schmitz, Ed Grieve and Joe Ecklund.

Mr. Ecklund worked in the Breckenridge hardware store 12 years before he went to Union, part of the time as a partner.

On Oct. 14, 1908, he was united in marriage to Evalena Erickson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Erickson of Brooklyn. Soon after their marriage the couple moved to Montana where they homesteaded a year and a half. After returning to Iowa they went to Union to live. They purchased the hardware business there in 1911 and they made their home there until the present time. During those years at Union Mr. Ecklund developed a good business and built up an exceptionally large circle of friends. In addition to his business he was also active in the M.E. church, acting as Sunday school teacher and superintendent. He served on the Union school board and worked as chairman of committees of all sorts in civic activities. He was a true friend, a good citizen and one who was always willing to help any good cause.

A brief funeral service was held at the home Tuesday in Union, conducted by the Rev. Tristam Dillon, pastor of the Stanford Friends church.

The large number of friends from Union who attended the services held here Wednesday gave some idea of the esteem in which he was held in Union. The Methodist church was crowded with Brooklyn friends also.

Services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Dillon of Union, assisted by Rev. R.G. Nye. Fred Mitchell of Union, a close personal friend of Mr. Ecklund, sang beautifully,"Thy Will Be Done," and "Crossing the Bar." Six men from Brooklyn, Ed Grieve, Dr. Schmitz, Coe Manatt, R.J. Breckenridge, John Carlsen and F.L. Neff, acted as active pall bearers. Six men from Union were honorary pall bearers. The same four ladies from Union who had charge of the flowers the day before at the services in Union, were in charge of the flowers here. Interment was in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. The I.O.O.F. attended in a body.

Mr. Ecklund is survived by his widow, one daughter, Chatherine, aged fourteen, his mother, his sister, Mrs. Freeman Shine, a brother, Clarence Ecklund, and another brother, E.O. Ecklund of Riverside,Calif. His father and a brother, Fred, preceded him in death.

His death at 51 years of age with so much of life ahead of him was very sad and the sympathy of his friends is with the grief-stricken wife, daughter, mother, brothers and sister.