Obituaries / LJWorld.com

Obituaries

Funeral services for Albert William Eckman, 85, Vinland, will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Vinland United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Vinland Cemetery.Mr. Eckman died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, at his home.He was born Nov. 27, 1921, in Vinland, the son of Youdon and Jennie Piper Eckman. He grew up and attended grade school in Vinland and graduated from Vinland High School in 1939.He served in the U.S. Army from Aug. 20, 1942 until he was honorably discharged Dec. 4, 1945. He served in Seattle and Juneau, Alaska, and obtained the rank of sergeant. He was a dock boss and supervised loading and unloading cargo. He was in charge of 50 longshoremen and ensured cargo was stored correctly and accurate records were kept. He also served as an administrative NCO and identified and kept records. He worked on the family farm as a dairy farmer and was a member of the Kansas Guernsey Breeds Association. Mr. Eckman enjoyed fishing on his farm ponds and woodworking. He made cabinets and helped remodel homes in the Vinland area. He also helped renovate Vinland United Methodist Church. He liked to read, especially Western and mystery novels.He married Leta Mae Cox on Sept. 27, 1948, at her family's farm in rural Lawrence. They shared nearly 42 years of marriage before she died Sept. 23, 1990.Survivors include a daughter, Wanda Jean DuFrain and husband Larry, Bourbonnais, Ill.; a sister, Mabel Seele, Lawrence; two granddaughters, Angela E. Strebel and husband Raymond, Alton, Ill., and Suzette M. Wiggs and husband Scott, Herrin, Ill.; and four great-grandchildren, Tyler Jude and Jeremy Lear Strebel, and Dakota Nicole and Brookelyn Mae Wiggs.He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Cora James and Esther McTaggert; and three brothers, Olaf, Youdon "Ed" and Robert Eckman.The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home in Baldwin City.The family suggests memorials to Vinland Cemetery, sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City 66006.