Eckhardt, William R.

ECKHARDT, DOMINE, OTOOLE, CROOK, DOVE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/8/2008 at 14:57:37

Eckhardt, William R. "Bill"
SWISHER -

William R. ``Bill'' Eckhardt, 56, of Swisher, died Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, at University Hospitals in Iowa City following a short illness. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids. The Rev. Bill Randles of Believers In Grace Fellowship will officiate. Private family burial: St. John's Cemetery, Bellevue, Iowa. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel in Cedar Rapids from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and after 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Survivors include his wife, Jan; his mother, Lois Eckhardt of Wellman; his son, Andrew of Iowa City; his stepson, Dennis O'Toole of Swisher; his cousins, Penny Crook and husband Chris of Wales, UK, and Paul and Lou Ann Dove of Minneapolis; his beloved cats, Smelly, Doc, Skeeter, G.W., and Phoebe; and his loving Shelty, Hannah.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Bill was born Aug. 21, 1951, in Iowa City, Iowa, to Charles and Lois Domine Eckhardt. He served with the Marines during the Vietnam War. Bill married Jan O'Toole on Dec. 5, 1999, in Cedar Rapids. He had many occupations -- he was a regional truck driver, a farmer, an Iowa licensed funeral director, taught trucker training at Kirkwood Community College, was a mechanic for Mr. Good Wrench in Iowa City, and was a deputy sheriff of Cedar County. He was a member of the Isaac Walton League of Johnson County. He competed in several state trap shoots, and was involved with DNR Hunters Ed and the Old Threshers Reunion in Mount Pleasant.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, trapping, building steam engines, and loved watching trains and spending time outdoors. He was a master fixer upper and the Ultimate Packer Backer.

Cedar Rapids Gazette Online.