Gary James Eckels

ECKELS, HALM, KNOLL, KILPATRICK, VERT, EDWARDS, JOHNSON, JENNETT, GOELTL, STEELE, MEYER, RICE

Posted By: Ruth McDowell (email)
Date: 5/21/2014 at 14:13:42

Kale Funeral Home website

Gary James Eckels, son of James Starr Eckels and Gertrude Clara (Halm) Eckels was born April 25, 1939 in Shannon City, Iowa and went home to heaven Monday, March 31, 2014 at 74 years of age.

Gary grew up in the Thayer area. Following graduation from high school he entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While there he worked on the Honest John Missile and met his future wife Loretta. Gary and Loretta Anna Knoll were united in marriage on January 6, 1963 in Loveland, Colorado. They moved to a farm near Murray, Iowa and three children blessed this union, Michael, Susan and Andrew.

Gary was a farmer; he enjoyed Farmall tractors and raising Angus cattle. He was a member of the Clarke County Old Iron Club; Clarke County Cattlemen's Association, and a former member of the Murray Lions Club, and a Clarke County Fair Board member. Gary was a longtime and active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and had served many years as an elder. He enjoyed drinking coffee, jokes, and story telling. He didn't know a stranger and will be missed for his easy smile and sense of humor. He passed on his love of watching John Wayne movies to his children and grandchildren.

Those relatives who preceded Gary in death were his wife of 51 years, Loretta; parents, James and Gertrude, brother, Stephen Eckels, parents-in-law, Rudolph and Norma Knoll, brothers-in-law, Jerry Vert, Kenny Goeltl, Pat Steele, and Vic Meyer.

Gary leaves to cherish his memory; son, Mike (Jodee) Eckels of Murray, IA, daughter, Susan (Rick) Johnson of Norwalk, IA, son, Andy (Chandra) Eckels of Murray. The light of his life were his grandchildren, in their eyes Grandpa could do no wrong; Katie (Brian) Jennett of Iowa City, Darin (Ashleigh Neal) Eckels of Murray, Corey Eckels of Murray, Elyse and Cole Rice, Marcus and Rachel Johnson all of Norwalk, Addison, Rileanna, and Trevor Eckels all of Murray, sisters, Carol Jean (Jay) Edwards of Colorado, Dorothy Ann Vert and Maxine (Jack) Kilpatrick all of Lorimor, IA, sister in laws June Steele of Colorado and Nadine Meyer of IL, many nieces and nephews as well as other relatives and many friends.