Francis Eckerman
April 28, 1926 - February 06, 2013
Obituary
MONONA-Francis Eckerman died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013. He was born on April 28, 1926 in Monroe and grew up in Warren, Ill. Fran attended Warren Schools, graduated at 17 and left for the U.S. Navy the next morning. He served in the Pacific where his ship was sunk by a kamikaze attack on May 4, 1945. After the war, he attended Platteville Teacher’s College and graduate school at the University of Wyoming. Fran married Ruth Andrews in 1951. He taught and coached basketball at Brodhead for four years, and served as principal of Verona High School from 1954 until 1955. Fran was the safety director at American Automobile Association (AAA) until his retirement in 1987. Since his retirement, he has worked as a driver for Zimbrick Automotive, a job he dearly loved. Fran also enjoyed attending yearly U.S. Navy reunions with his shipmates. Fran is survived by his wife, Ruth; three children, Tim of Colorado Springs, Chris (Joseph Ripp) of Madison, and Dan of Mukwonago; eight grandchildren, Andrew Eckerman of Texas, Michelle Charlston of Colorado Springs, Eric Heitzinger of Madison, Jamie, Kyle, and Alyx Eckerman of Mukwonago, David Ripp of Madison, and Allison Ripp Simkins of Phoenix; two great-grandchildren, Ashton Charlston and Tyler Eckerman; sisters-in-law, Iva Modrich of Raton, N.M., and Norma Andrews of Wauwatosa; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and twin brother, Clifford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, with Father Kent Schmitt presiding. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass on Saturday. Memorials may be made to Second Harvest, 2802 Dairy Drive, Madison, WI. 53718. Dad always took care of everything and everybody. He was always there for us, and we are all going to miss him.
Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass on Saturday.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, with Father Kent Schmitt presiding.
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Memories
GB
Ginny Bork
Other •
I will always remember Fran's kindness and ready smile during his time at AAA!
GT
Georgeanna (Jana) Teehan
Other •
My Dear Sweet Friend Ruth: I am heartbroken...I loved Fran, he always was such a dear kind friend as were you. I loved being with him during the LSMR
reunions, I was late joining, and you and Fran were really my first close friends from those events. I so enjoyed talking with him, joking and laughing, in person and during our many long distance phone calls. Things will not be the same for me without that dear man and friend. My love and prayers to you my dear Ruth, and to your family. May God Bless and help you during this hard time...All my love, Jana
MF
Mary Ries Fischer
Other •
When I think back on my childhood on Schofield Street in Monona I always think of the Eckerman's. Being one of seven kids I was always searching out a little corner to call my own and I found that place in the Eckerman's backyard. They had a swing set that was cemented into the ground and as far as Mr. Eckerman was concerned I could swing on it all day and Mrs. Eckerman would always feed me homemade cookies afterwards, it was truly a little slice of heaven in my young world. I always felt the love.
Francis was a beautiful soulful man and I was lucky to have known him. Little Mary Lou
CW
Christine and Jerry Witherill
Other •
Fran was a very dear friend to us both. Jerry knew him for many, many years and I had the pleasure of meeting him and Ruth 25 years ago when I married Jerry. I was always impressed with his honesty, integrity and openness as a person as well as his obvious love and commitment to Ruth and to the rest of his family. I was so honored when he came to my classes when I was a teacher and spoke so very touchingly to my students about his World War II experience. He touched so many lives! When my father died, he became a second father figure--I so treasured his hugs. Jerry and I and our three boys will dearly miss our good friend Fran. Ruth, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love,
Jerry, Chris, David, Christopher & Daniel Witherill
VT
v. thompson
Other •
Dear Eckerman Family,
Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. May you find comfort in your loving memories, and in knowing that God is "near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves." (Psalm 34;18) Our loving Creator has promised to soon "swallow up death forever...and wipe the tears from all faces." (Isaiah 25;8) With deepest sympathy,
JP
John W. Palmer
Other •
Dear Eckermans,
I meet Fran in 1972 when I returned from the Army to teach driver eduction in Kenosha and became a member of the Wisconsin Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association. Fran was always a strong advocate for quality traffic safety education and a loyal member of the AAA family. What I remember most is that smile he seemed to always have brightening the world around him. My connection with Fran became less frequent when I moved to Minnesota to work at St. Cloud State University, but I did return to WI many times to attend the WDTSEA annual conference. I became very active in the American Driver & Traffic Safety Association would run in to Fran occasionally at one of their conferences. The world will miss Fran and Heaven has gain a new saint.
Sincerely,
John W. Palmer, Ph.D.
Past President ADTSEA and Professor of Health & Safety at St. Cloud State University