- Born on: July 2, 1920
- Departed on: August 21, 2017
- Resided in: Cedar Rapids, IA
Herbert L. Eckert
Herbert L. Eckert, 97, of Cedar Rapids died Monday, August 21, 2017 at Cottage Grove Place after an extended illness.
He was a longtime member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, where a memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, August 25, 2017 in the church chapel, with Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer. Cremation rites were accorded by Iowa Cremation.
Herbert is survived by his daughters Judy (John) Zimdars of Plymouth, Minnesota and Susan (Jim) Moss of Cedar Rapids; granddaughter Megan (Arturo) Lapham-Alvarez of Las Vegas, Nevada; and a great grandson, Mateo Alvarez.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Irene, a daughter Kathryn Lapham and a sister Lorraine.
Herbert was born July 2, 1920 in Cedar Rapids to Lloyd and Tressa (Miller) Eckert. He graduated from Franklin High School and Iowa State College with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Herbert enlisted in the Army Air Force and served from November 1942 to April 1946, ending up in Guam with the 20th Air Force Division. Herbert was united in marriage to D. Irene Werner on September 11, 1948 in Cedar Rapids.
After the war, he started as a lab technician for La Plant Choate and retired as a senior project engineer in the hydraulic heavy construction industry after 37 years with La Plant Choate, Allis Chalmers and Harnischfeger.
Herbert joined Iowa Rails to Trails in 1983 and volunteered over 3300 hours in helping the Cedar Valley Nature Trail become a reality, clearing brush, rebuilding a burned bridge, putting railings on bridges, spreading gravel, and doing trail maintenance. In 1990 he helped organize the Linn County Trails Association and devoted many hours to their various projects.
In 1985 he designed and oversaw construction of the bandstand in Usher’s Ferry Historic Village, named after his great grandfather Dyer Usher, and worked on many other projects in the village.
In 1988 he designed and oversaw construction of a bridge in Indian Creek Nature Center and worked on many other projects over the years. Also in 1988 he helped with the first Habitat for Humanity house in Cedar Rapids and worked on seven other rehabilitations and one new house over the next five years.
Herbert spent many hours at Camp Hitaga where he designed and oversaw construction of eight new cabins and improvements at Wohelo and Dining Lodges.
He enjoyed golf, tennis and especially camping with his family, spending many happy times in numerous places throughout the Midwest and West, including Green Mountain Falls, CO.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Indian Creek Nature Center or Usher’s Ferry Historic Village.
He was a longtime member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, where a memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, August 25, 2017 in the church chapel, with Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer. Cremation rites were accorded by Iowa Cremation.
Herbert is survived by his daughters Judy (John) Zimdars of Plymouth, Minnesota and Susan (Jim) Moss of Cedar Rapids; granddaughter Megan (Arturo) Lapham-Alvarez of Las Vegas, Nevada; and a great grandson, Mateo Alvarez.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Irene, a daughter Kathryn Lapham and a sister Lorraine.
Herbert was born July 2, 1920 in Cedar Rapids to Lloyd and Tressa (Miller) Eckert. He graduated from Franklin High School and Iowa State College with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Herbert enlisted in the Army Air Force and served from November 1942 to April 1946, ending up in Guam with the 20th Air Force Division. Herbert was united in marriage to D. Irene Werner on September 11, 1948 in Cedar Rapids.
After the war, he started as a lab technician for La Plant Choate and retired as a senior project engineer in the hydraulic heavy construction industry after 37 years with La Plant Choate, Allis Chalmers and Harnischfeger.
Herbert joined Iowa Rails to Trails in 1983 and volunteered over 3300 hours in helping the Cedar Valley Nature Trail become a reality, clearing brush, rebuilding a burned bridge, putting railings on bridges, spreading gravel, and doing trail maintenance. In 1990 he helped organize the Linn County Trails Association and devoted many hours to their various projects.
In 1985 he designed and oversaw construction of the bandstand in Usher’s Ferry Historic Village, named after his great grandfather Dyer Usher, and worked on many other projects in the village.
In 1988 he designed and oversaw construction of a bridge in Indian Creek Nature Center and worked on many other projects over the years. Also in 1988 he helped with the first Habitat for Humanity house in Cedar Rapids and worked on seven other rehabilitations and one new house over the next five years.
Herbert spent many hours at Camp Hitaga where he designed and oversaw construction of eight new cabins and improvements at Wohelo and Dining Lodges.
He enjoyed golf, tennis and especially camping with his family, spending many happy times in numerous places throughout the Midwest and West, including Green Mountain Falls, CO.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Indian Creek Nature Center or Usher’s Ferry Historic Village.
