John Monroe Eckard
1935 - 2019

John Monroe Eckard, 84 of Hamilton, IL died December 16, 2019 at Great River
Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa. He died peacefully surrounded by family.
He was born on June 15, 1935 in Chicago IL to Ione Lampitt and John Eckard.
John joined the Army in 1958 serving in Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
He married Rochelle Price in 1959. Together they had four children, Duane, Wendy,
Mark, and Dawn. They later divorced. John married Judy Ann Starr in 1984.
John worked at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison IA serving as the shop
foreman overseeing the facilities furniture refinishing program, until he retired.
John was skilled craftsman who could make or fix almost anything. He was especially
good at woodworking, whittling, and creating stained glass art. He enjoyed watching and
photographing the bald eagles wintering on the Mississippi River below the Keokuk lock
and dam. Always in attendance for family reunions, and was known to bring geodes to be
cracked open. Duster was his four legged companion for many years.
He is survived by his four children Duane (Peggy) Eckard of Loves Park, IL; Wendy
Eckard of Grayslake, IL; Mark (Sue) Eckard of Bensenville, IL; and Dawn (Jeff) Ebbing
of Burlington, IA; two brothers, Frank (Ouida) Eckard, and Ralph (Barbara-deceased)
Eckard, one sister, Frances (Jeff) Levant, eleven grandchildren, Steve Eckard, Tracey
Thompson, Christine Werdan, Katherine Werdan, Wesley Werdan, Candice Grossman,
Christopher Eckard, Ryan Eckard, Jefferson Ebbing, Hannah Ebbing, Elizabeth Ebbing
and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ione and John, brother, Paul (Barbara-
survives), and wife Judy.
A Gathering of Remembrance will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, January 4, 2020 at
Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, IA. Please join in a Family Prayer at 2:30 p.m.
Memorials may be made in John’s name to Great River Hospice House.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.vigenmemorialhome.com