Services for Gary Eck
Sun, 01/30/2022 - 2:52pm
admin
On January 24th, Gary Eck of Gonvick, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home with family by his side.
Gary was born on January 29th, 1949 in the Bagley Hospital. He was the first born of Russell T. and Vivian B. (Schmunk) Eck. He grew up just east of Gonvick on the family farm. He was confirmed in the Faith of Jesus Christ at Samhold Lutheran Church in Gonvick by Rev. E.M. Berg in the spring of 1963. Gary was very active in sports throughout high school, enjoying both football and baseball. Gary graduated as a Gonvick Bulldog in May 1967, along with five other cousins that were in his class. Immediately after graduation he and others from the class headed to the Twin Cities to seek their fortunes with good jobs. He pumped gas for a short time at a small station on Lake Street during the time of the 1967 riots. He started working at Thermo King Corporation in Bloomington as a spot welder in the fall of 1967. In the summer of 1972, he met his soon-to-be wife, Joy Ulrich, when she took a job at Thermo King as a temporary summer worker. Joy became Gary’s spot welder “helper” in the spring of 1973. Gary and Joy were married on August 17th, 1974 in an outdoor wedding on the lawn of Gary’s parents' home. In the spring of 1975, expecting their first child, they left their jobs and headed north with the desire to raise their family in the beautiful north country of Gary’s home town and go into dairy farming. They did not find a farm immediately, so for a time Gary took schooling for Dairy Cow Artificial Insemination and worked as a local technician in addition to selling Patz barn cleaners. They purchased their farm and built a new dairy and calf barn the summer and fall 1976. Gary belonged to AMPI and was also on the Farm Bureau Board for many years. Their first son Carl was born in 1975, second son Nolan was born in 1979, and their daughter Molly May was born in 1981. The family was complete. There were some very hard years for farmers in the 1980’s, so when an opportunity presented itself, Gary started working nights, part-time, as custodian for the Gonvick School. A couple of years later he sold all of the remaining dairy herd and went to work for the school district in the maintenance department, while continuing to farm small grains with his dad. When the children left home, he took a position in Bemidji as Head Manager of Maintenance for HUD. A couple of years later a similar position opened at Cornerstone Nursing & Rehab in Bagley. Gary worked there while continuing to farm with his son Nolan until he retired in 2014. From retirement until his passing Gary continued to actively farm with his son.
Gary lived simply, spoke few words and was happiest and most content to be home. His love for his children and grandchildren surpassed all else. Gary’s legacy will live on in his children and grandchildren. He had deep Faith in God to get thru every situation and he trusted God completely, thru every trial even the prolonged trial of cancer. We, his family and friends, grieve over our loss, but are thankful he is home with the Lord and those that have gone before him.
He is survived by his wife, Joy Eck of Gonvick, MN; his children, Carl (Corryn) Eck of Baudette, MN, Nolan (Jessica) Eck of Leonard, MN, and Molly May (Jeremiah) Witucki of Eden Prairie, MN; his grandchildren, Charles Eck, Sarah Eck, Arthur Eck, Elsie Eck, Maxwell Witucki, Hadley Witucki, and Emme May Witucki; his siblings, Jim Eck and Jennifer (Joel) Kvsager; siblings-in-law, Danny (Mary) Ulrich, Doug (Jackie) Ulrich, Dean (Janice) Ulrich, Julie (Keith) Roberts, and Jennifer (Eric) Kjensrud; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other loved family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Theodore and Vivian Bernice (Schmunk) Eck; his parents-in-law, Roger John and Kathleen Fay (Monson) Ulrich; his grandparents; nephew and niece, Julie's Micheal and Evie's Kia and some cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Country Faith Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota with a time of fellowship an hour prior. There will be a luncheon at the church following the service. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com