Kenneth C. Eckart

Kenneth C. Eckart, age 88, of Gaastra, MI, went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 10, 2014. He was born on March 17, 1925, the son of the late Clarence and Agnes (Waite) Eckart of Rogers Location in Bates Township. He grew up in Bates Township, attending the Bates and Iron River Schools. He worked at Douglas Aircraft Plant in Chicago, where he met and married his wife, Alice Siem Eckart in 1947. He served in the U.S. Air Force in the Alaskan Theatre. After WWII, Alice and Kenneth settled in Bates Township. Kenneth worked for M.A. Hanna Mining Company for 24 years at the Wauseca Mine. The Eckarts also operated the HiWay Café on US 2 for several years. They ran the concession at Bewabic and Pentoga Park for ten years. They wintered and worked in Florida for 24 years. They lived on Sunset Lake for several years before moving to Gaastra. Kenneth enjoyed gardening. He took pride in his yard and flowers. He enjoyed raising raspberries and a vegetable garden. Ken was a real dog lover and always had a canine companion. Ken is survived by his wife, Alice of 66 years; one son, Ronald of Iron River; one daughter, Susan Kirk of LaGrange, IN; two grandchildren, Aleycia Fuller of Sturgis, MI, and Tobin Kirk of Kalamazoo, MI; three great grandchildren, Matthew, Katrina, and Tanis. Visitation will be held Monday, March 17, 2014 from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church of Iron River. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 p.m., with Pastor Roberta Willson to officiate. Interment will be in Resthaven Cemetery in the spring. The West Side Veterans will accord Military Rites at the graveside. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth C. Eckart, please visit our flower store.