Donald Eckert
St. Charles | Sunday, February 21 2021 |
Donald Roger Eckert of St.Charles, Missouri passed from death to new life on Sunday, February 21, 2021. Don was 87 years old.
Don grew up in Granite City, Illinois where he met his wife Joyce Elayne Garrard and was married on February 3, 1956.
Don graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Don went on to serve as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, stationed as a flight maintenance officer at McGuire Air Force Base in New Hanover, New Jersey. Following his military service, Don returned with his young family to St. Louis, Missouri to begin his life-long career with McDonnell Douglas and Boeing as a stress engineer for the United States Air Force fleet of fighter jets.
Don and Joyce raised their five children in Florissant, Missouri where they attended Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and later Atonement Lutheran Church. Don was an active member of his church community and served as an elder during his patronage. Don enjoyed fishing, golf, cheering his kids on in their various sports-related activities and was actively involved in scouting with his son.
Following the untimely death of his first wife Joyce, Don later remarried Dorothy Hubbard Eckert, who has preceded him in death.
Don is survived by his brother, Robert Eckert of Seattle, Washington, his sister-in-law Marilyn Schaefer of Greenville, Illinois, and his five children; Donna Jones and husband Bruce, Debbie Short and husband Bryan, Steven Eckert and wife Chris, Diane Vaughan and husband David, Laura Schmidt and husband Phil. Don is also survived by his eleven grandchildren; Casie Jones, Christy Blair and husband Scott, Justin Short and wife Rebecca, Jake Eckert and wife Emily, Michael Eckert and fiance Melissa, Hannah Herum and husband Josh, Lydia Shank and husband David, Ethan Vaughan, Adam Vaughan, Emily Schmidt, and Lindsey Schmidt and by his six great-grandchildren; Ellie, Remi, Reese, Rowan, Truman, and Emerson, with still more on the way!
A private service has been scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at Irwin Chapel in Glen Carbon, Illinois. Don will be laid to rest at Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens, also located in Glen Carbon.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Epilepsy Foundation of Saint Louis, 4406 Saint Vincent Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63119. www.irwinchapel.com
Irwin Chapel Funeral Home
