Forrest Wayne ECKELS

ECKELS, DEBOER, KOSTERS, GREIMAN, BOTTARO

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/11/2014 at 18:11:21

January 7, 1913 --- December 8, 2014

Forrest Wayne Eckels, 101 of Britt passed away Monday, December 8, 2014 at Westview Care Center in Britt. Funeral services for Forrest Eckels will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 10:30 AM at the Woden Christian Reformed Church, 205 290th Street rural Woden with Pastor Harrison Harnden and Mr. Craig Eckels officiating. Burial will be at the Woden Christian Reformed Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, December 12, 2014 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street in Britt and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Saturday.

Forrest, the son of Penn and Marian Eckels, was born in Goldfield, Iowa on January 7, 1913. When he was a young boy the family moved to a farm in Orthel Township. He attended country grade school, graduated from Britt High School in 1930 and was a graduate of the Britt Junior College.

On August 19, 1937 he was united in marriage with Bernice DeBoer at the Woden Christian Reformed Church. After their marriage Forrest continued to farm with his father on the farm in Orthel Township Northwest of Britt. Their three children were raised on this farm. Forrest Eckels later farmed with his son. In his retirement he continued to help his son on the farm as well as help his other son in the Cobbler Shoppe.

He was an active member of the Woden Christian Reformed Church. He served as a Sunday School Superintendent for 20 years, was active in Men’s Society and served several terns on the Council. His love for the Lord was not only evident in his dedication to the church, but in the whole of his life. Being involved in the community was important to Forrest. His interests led him to become a 4-H leader, a member of the Britt School Board during the time the new school was built, a member of the Advisory Board of Dordt College, an Orthel Township Trustee, President of the Board of the Historical Society, a Farm Bureau member, and a member of the Gideons. He was very proud to have been the Grand Marshall of the Hobo Day parade in 2004. Retirement gave Forrest more time to pursue his hobbies. He would tell you with great fondness of his fishing trips to Minnesota, the hole in one that he got while golfing and most of all, the daily coffee times he had at the restaurants in Britt.

Survivors include three children: Wayne Eckels and his wife Judy of Britt, Iowa; Bonnie Kosters and her husband Marvin of Clifton, Virginia; Bill Eckels and his wife Marilyn of Britt, Iowa; Eight grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; a sister-in-law Rosalie DeBoer of Sun City, Arizona, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice of 72 years, his parents, two sisters, Louise Greiman and Inez Bottaro. Two siblings, Luella and Mervin, died in infancy.

Ewing Funeral Home
http://www.ewingfh.com/obituaries.php?id=819