1922
Elwyn
2013
Elwyn Ecker
August 23, 1922 — November 1, 2013
Elwyn Ecker, 91, of Moline, IL, passed away from this world on Friday, November 01, 2013, at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island, Rock Island, IL.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at First Covenant Church, 3303 41 Street, Moline. Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Monday at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd. 6601 38 Avenue, Moline. Burial will be at the National Cemetery on the Rock Island Arsenal. Military honors will be conducted by the Moline American Legion Post #246. Memorials may be made to the church or to Christian Friendliness of Moline.
Elwyn was born on August 23, 1922, in Moline to Gustaf and Mabel Lindberg Ecker. He lived in Moline most of his life except for his army years and a short period when the family lived near Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Moline High School and attended Augustana College for a year after his service in WWII. Elwyn served in a Military Police Company in the European theatre and for a short time in the Pacific as well. He worked with International Harvester East Moline Works for almost 40 years, after which he enjoyed a number of years of retirement.
Introduced by his father at a young age to swimming and the enjoyment of water, Elwyn spent much of his free time boating and fishing. The family spent many vacations on the lakes of northern Arkansas to the lakes of northern Minnesota, as well as fishing and camping in the Quad City Area and southwestern Wisconsin. Elwyn's interest in travel took them all over the United States. Pulling a camper they visited many Midwest parks as well as a few on both the east and west coast. In later years he would brag he visited all 50 states. After the children were grown, Elwyn limited his fishing and boating to the backwaters of the Mississippi in southwestern Wisconsin.
Elwyn greatly enjoyed spending time with his family. He coached Dad's Club ball for all three children, and made sure the boys experienced both hunting and fishing. He looked forward to the family getting together at the holidays and each child and grandchild's birthday celebration.
Elwyn had a great love for animals. The Ecker family experienced a variety of animals and made sure the wild birds were fed and the squirrels as well. He even felt he needed to pick up the newly hatched turtles on the roads in Wisconsin and carry them to the water's edge. The family was never without a dog until the later years.
Elwyn was a life time member of First Covenant Church of Moline, Illinois, and it was there he was married to Mary Louise Lewis on November 6, 1949. They had an enjoyable and fulfilling life together and along with camping, boating, hunting and fishing; they enjoyed a number of years of square dancing. The family will forever miss him.
Survivors include
Wife Mary Ecker Moline, IL
Children Douglas (Jeanne) Ecker Big Rock, IL
Debra (Mike) Crawford Moline, IL
Daryl Ecker Moline, IL
Grandchildren Ryan (Brittany) Dierks Dubuque, IA
Erica Dierks Moline, IL
Halie Ecker Chicago, IL
Adam Dawson Moline, IL
Several Cousins, Nieces and Nephews
Special Cousin Joan Waldorf
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Milton.
Online condolences may be left for his family by visiting esterdahl.com.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at First Covenant Church, 3303 41 Street, Moline. Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Monday at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd. 6601 38 Avenue, Moline. Burial will be at the National Cemetery on the Rock Island Arsenal. Military honors will be conducted by the Moline American Legion Post #246. Memorials may be made to the church or to Christian Friendliness of Moline.
Elwyn was born on August 23, 1922, in Moline to Gustaf and Mabel Lindberg Ecker. He lived in Moline most of his life except for his army years and a short period when the family lived near Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Moline High School and attended Augustana College for a year after his service in WWII. Elwyn served in a Military Police Company in the European theatre and for a short time in the Pacific as well. He worked with International Harvester East Moline Works for almost 40 years, after which he enjoyed a number of years of retirement.
Introduced by his father at a young age to swimming and the enjoyment of water, Elwyn spent much of his free time boating and fishing. The family spent many vacations on the lakes of northern Arkansas to the lakes of northern Minnesota, as well as fishing and camping in the Quad City Area and southwestern Wisconsin. Elwyn's interest in travel took them all over the United States. Pulling a camper they visited many Midwest parks as well as a few on both the east and west coast. In later years he would brag he visited all 50 states. After the children were grown, Elwyn limited his fishing and boating to the backwaters of the Mississippi in southwestern Wisconsin.
Elwyn greatly enjoyed spending time with his family. He coached Dad's Club ball for all three children, and made sure the boys experienced both hunting and fishing. He looked forward to the family getting together at the holidays and each child and grandchild's birthday celebration.
Elwyn had a great love for animals. The Ecker family experienced a variety of animals and made sure the wild birds were fed and the squirrels as well. He even felt he needed to pick up the newly hatched turtles on the roads in Wisconsin and carry them to the water's edge. The family was never without a dog until the later years.
Elwyn was a life time member of First Covenant Church of Moline, Illinois, and it was there he was married to Mary Louise Lewis on November 6, 1949. They had an enjoyable and fulfilling life together and along with camping, boating, hunting and fishing; they enjoyed a number of years of square dancing. The family will forever miss him.
Survivors include
Wife Mary Ecker Moline, IL
Children Douglas (Jeanne) Ecker Big Rock, IL
Debra (Mike) Crawford Moline, IL
Daryl Ecker Moline, IL
Grandchildren Ryan (Brittany) Dierks Dubuque, IA
Erica Dierks Moline, IL
Halie Ecker Chicago, IL
Adam Dawson Moline, IL
Several Cousins, Nieces and Nephews
Special Cousin Joan Waldorf
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Milton.
Online condolences may be left for his family by visiting esterdahl.com.
Visitation Details
Monday, November 4th, 2013, 4:00pm - 7:00pm, Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd.
Service Details
Tuesday, November 5th, 2013, 11:00am, First Covenant Church
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