Ervin D. Eklund

Mr. Eklund died Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

He was born March 22, 1934, in Mountain Grove, Mo., the son of V. E. and Dorothy (Shannon) Eklund. He grew up and attended schools in Coffeyville. He graduated from Kansas University in 1962 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He moved to Lawrence in 1974.

Mr. Eklund had worked at Bendix Corp. in Kansas City, North American Aviation with the space program in Tulsa, Okla., and Beech Aircraft in Wichita. He later owned and operated a Yum Yum Tree Ice Cream Store in Rogers, Ark., and operated Big E Real Estate. He sold real estate in Lenexa and after moving to Lawrence ran a Jewel T route in Topeka, then managed an Amoco Station in Lenexa. Before he retired in 1999, he worked at Payless Cashways in Lawrence.

He coached youth baseball in Tulsa. He was a member of Order of DeMolay and a former member of the Optimist Club in Derby.

He married Elaine Spielman on Jan. 27, 1956, in Lawrence. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a son, Rodney, Lawrence; a daughter, Jane Platt, Lawrence; a brother, Charles, Bartlesville, Okla.; six grandsons; and a great-granddaughter.

The family suggests memorials to Douglas County Visiting Nurses Assn., sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

E-mail condolences may be sent to info@warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Eklund.