Word has been received of the death of Carl “C” Eckert. Mr. Eckert passed away Monday, March 4, 2013 in Kiowa at the age of 88. [it-exchange-member-content membership_ids=”485,313″]
Carl was born November 9, 1924 at his parents home in Kiowa, to Seigfried “Zeke” Carl and Hattie Smith Eckert.
He was a longtime resident of Kiowa, working with his father and brothers in the family trade as an interior/ exterior decorator.
Carl was 17 when he was called by his country, along with three of his brothers, to serve during World War II. He joined the Navy and was assigned to a special service, ACORN Seventeen, which performed secret missions in the south Pacific. Much of his Naval record is still classified as a “military secret”. He was honorably discharged November 11, 1945 and returned to Kiowa to find his bride “walking the streets of Kiowa”. He said he knew life was short and he knew what he wanted. He was united in marriage to Juanita Louise Garman at the Methodist Parsonage in Kiowa, February 24, 1946. To this union three sons were born, David Carl, Lex Dean and Max Wayne.
Mr. Eckert continued his family trade with his dad and brothers as C.C. Eckert Decorating, painting and paper hanging and tile laying until he bought his first combine and truck and began his custom harvesting career. He cut with his brother-in-law Claude Tripplet of Burden and Richard Garman until he and his son Lex partnered up to form Eckert Custom Harvesting and Trucking.
Carl was also a rural substitute mail carrier for several years in the middle 1960’s. After the death of his son Lex, he partnered with a cousin, Chris Thilsted for several years. After 40 years of custom harvesting, Carl sold his combines but kept on trucking. When he retired from trucking he couldn’t just stop working so he took up driving the school bus for South Barber. He truly loved the kids and they loved him.
In 1999, he and David built “The JCE Ministorage” on the home acreage. Carl’s youngest son Max was born deaf/blind, and Carl became an advocate for children and families of deaf/blind children. He was the charter Vice President of the Kansas Parent/Teacher Association of Deaf / Blind / Multi-Handicapped Children and became president the next two years.
Carl was called to speak to a United States Senate Committee and another joint session of the Kansas Legislature.
He was preceded in death by his parents Seigfried and Hattie Eckert; five brothers, Alvin, Albert, Loyal, infant, Lesley and Leon; four sisters infant Bessie, Maxine Lindstom, Elizabeth Kennedy Flezk and Edith Boyle; son Lex Dean Eckert; and granddaughter Francisca Jean Eckert.
Survivors include his wife Juanita; two sons, David Carl and wife Brenda of Hugoton and Max Wayne of Wichita; daughter-in-law, Leesa Eckert Mott and husband Craig of Kiowa; grandchildren, Marcus and wife Tammi of Hugoton, Angela Staten of Liberal, Nathan Eckert and wife Shelley of Stoddard, Wi., Michelle Morgan and husband Zach of Corning, Ia. and Brett Mott of Kiowa; great grandchildren, Tala, Tukker and Takoda Eckert, Raven, Rayna and Rayshawn Staten, Abigail, Sadie and Isaac Eckert and Avery and Alex Morgan; brothers – in – law, Richard Garman of Kiowa and Dean Garman of Rogers, Ar.; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services are planned for Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Kiowa. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Kiowa.
Memorials may be made to Harden Hospice, Congregational United Church of Christ or Kiowa District Hospital in care of Lanman Funeral Home Inc., P.O. Box 42, Kiowa, Ks. 67070.[/it-exchange-member-content]