JOHN ECKHARDT

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JOHN ECKHARDT John Eckhardt suddenly and quietly slipped away on November 22, 2002 at the Q.E.II Hospital in Grande Prairie, AB. He was 82. Emma, his devoted and loving wife of 55 years is left to fondly remember him as well as his daughters, Adele (Tait) and Carol-Lee; and his son, Ron. Their spouses, Darren, Jack, and Lynn and her two children Julia and Conrad also came to love him and will miss him. The lights of his life, his two grandchildren, Emma and Riley, will really miss him. His brother Steve and his wife Mary and daughter Irene and her family; his sister Anne, niece Susan and her family, and nephews Harvey and Lawrence and their families will also mourn him. John was an amazing man, talented and smart with a heart as big as the sun. He adored Emma who not only was the love of his life but his anchor as well. He lived for family and supported whatever endeavour we got up to. He had a huge love and commitment to Canada and was fiercely patriotic. Politics, religion, and farming were his favourite discussion topics and were often debated into the night interspersed with the jokes that he never seemed to run out of. His carpentry skills were legend and the area around Dugald, MB is dotted with his work. His advice on farming practices, fixing anything, and income tax was sought. John came to Canada from Topolchany, Slovakia, with his family at the urging of his mother in 1938. They settled on a small farm in the Dugald area just east of Winnipeg. Together they built it up to a thriving operation. His trade from the old country was that of a wheelwright. As there were no wooden wheels needed here, he quickly switched to working in the lumber camps where he learned more languages than the two he was already fluent in. He gave up many of his dreams to keep the family unit strong, always sacrificing for the betterment of the whole. John loved life. He worked hard and played hard. There was always a twinkle in his eye. The last two years trapped by a stroke in a body that couldnt walk or talk was not the way he would have wanted to live. Now he is free. A memorial service will be held at Olivers Grande Prairie Funeral Chapel, 10005-107 Ave., Grande Prairie on Tuesday, November 26 at 11:00 a.m. Later in June the family will take him home to Manitoba where there will be an interment of ashes at Green Acres. Honorary pallbearers are the special men he loved: Harry Osiowy, Bob McLeod, Bill Hadaller, Arthur Thompson, Frankie Chongva, Robert Duda, Jack Wynters, Darren Tait, Iyas Abbas, Steven Shavers, and Ian Kay. Special thanks to Dr. Cledwyn Lewis who was exemplary in his care. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation. Olivers Grande Prairie Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 10005-107 Ave. Grande Prairie, Alberta T8V 1L8 (780)532-2929 Dedicated Service Since 1915

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 26, 2002