Earl Eckert

Earl J. Eckert, 89, of Wayne, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, February 8, 2018, at Brookdale Senior Living in Wayne, Nebraska.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Laurel, NE; Rev. Dr. Dave York will be officiating.  The visitation will be held on Monday, February 12, 2018, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Laurel, NE, with a prayer service starting at 7:00 p.m.  Burial with military honors will be in the Concord Cemetery in Concord, NE.  Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.  Arrangements are under the direction of Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield, NE. Earl was born on September 29, 1928, at the family farm outside of Dixon, NE, to William and Bernice (Swift) Eckert.  In May of 1945, Earl graduated from the Dixon High School.  On July 21, 1948, he married Wilma L. Albrektson at the Presbyterian Parsonage in Wakefield.  The couple made their home near Dixon, where he farmed and operated a corn sheller.  In January of 1952, he entered the United States Army and was deployed with the 96th AAA Battalion to Alaska, during the Korean War.  Earl and Wilma lived in Alaska for over a year, while Earl was assigned to the motor pool and the mobile gun unit to move artillery guns in Alaska.  After his time in the service he returned home and farmed with his dad.  He farmed for the rest of his life.  Earl also worked for Dixon County for over twenty years as a heavy equipment operator.  In his spare time Earl restored IH crawlers and took them too many shows and parades. Earl never really retired, he was always active with the farm and always stayed in touch with his 96th AAA Battalion.  Even though Earl was always busy, he always made time for his family.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Earl is survived by his wife of 69 years, Wilma L., of Wayne, NE; daughters, Marilyn (David) Abts of Laurel, NE, and Anita Eckert of Laurel, NE; sister, Norma Penlerick of Wayne, NE; grandchildren, Angela Abts, Eric (Christy) Abts, Julie (Nick) Kvols, Jacob Eckert Fleischmann and Joshua Eckert Fleischmann; great grandchildren, Carter Kvols, Carlie Kvols, Claire Kvols, Ross Abts and Chayce Abts. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Wilma Jean Penlerick; brothers-in-law, Ronald Penlerick, LeRoy Penlerick and Earl Dean Leonard.