Visitation will be at Smith Funeral Home, 2222 London Rd., Eau Claire, WI (715-832-1141) on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, 3-6 p.m. Funeral Service will be at Messiah Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, WI (2015 N. Hastings Way) on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, at 11 a.m. Visitation at church will precede the funeral service by one hour (begin at 10 a.m.). Interment will be at Rest Haven Cemetery in Eau Claire, WI (5750 Old Town Hall Road) following the service.
He was born in Rossford Ohio, on December 21, 1923, to Leo and Caroline Eckel, and grew up in Whitehouse, Ohio, farming and trapping.
Leonard spent 4 years in the service of his country, enlisting in December, 1942. During a break in military training, he visited Eau Claire, and, met the love of his life Marjorie Books.
He was part of the historic Normandy invasion, with the 90th Infantry Division, landing on Utah Beach, June 6, 1944, then battling through France. He proposed in a letter, from France, and married Marjorie in Eau Claire while on leave, January 26, 1946. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage.
After his discharge in 1946, Leonard worked at various jobs in Eau Claire for a short time before settling at Uniroyal. He retired from Uniroyal as a manager in 1986 after 34 years of with the company. He and Margie enjoyed many years of traveling, fishing on Lake Superior and hunting in northern Wisconsin. Home base during fishing and hunting seasons was the cabin at Cornucopia, Wisconsin that Leonard built. Many are the fond memories of family and friends “up at Corny”.
Leonard was a charter member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.
He was preceded in death by his son, Gary (Denise); two infant daughters; parents; 8 sisters and one brother.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Eau Claire, WI; his daughter, Lorna (Darren) Zais of Eau Claire; son, Paul (Sue) of Cumberland, WI; Denise Koppa-Eckel of Augusta, WI; grandchildren, Jake (Kristy) Eckel of Augusta, WI, Sarah (Mike) Larson of Rogers, MN, Dustin (Heather) Henning of Eau Claire, Jesse (Amanda) Wilson of Hudson, WI, Seth Zais (Rikki) of Eau Claire, Gabe Eckel of Madison WI, Caleb Eckel of Madison, WI; great grandchildren, Brady Wilson, Alex Eckel and Olaf Larson.
Visitation will be at Smith Funeral Home, 2222 London Rd., Eau Claire, WI (715-832-1141) on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, 3-6 p.m. Funeral Service will be at Messiah Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, WI (2015 N. Hastings Way) on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, at 11 a.m. Visitation at church will precede the funeral service by one hour (begin at 10 a.m.). Interment will be at Rest Haven Cemetery in Eau Claire, WI (5750 Old Town Hall Road) following the service.
He was born in Rossford Ohio, on December 21, 1923, to Leo and Caroline Eckel, and grew up in Whitehouse, Ohio, farming and trapping.
Leonard spent 4 years in the service of his country, enlisting in December, 1942. During a break in military training, he visited Eau Claire, and, met the love of his life Marjorie Books.
He was part of the historic Normandy invasion, with the 90th Infantry Division, landing on Utah Beach, June 6, 1944, then battling through France. He proposed in a letter, from France, and married Marjorie in Eau Claire while on leave, January 26, 1946. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage.
After his discharge in 1946, Leonard worked at various jobs in Eau Claire for a short time before settling at Uniroyal. He retired from Uniroyal as a manager in 1986 after 34 years of with the company. He and Margie enjoyed many years of traveling, fishing on Lake Superior and hunting in northern Wisconsin. Home base during fishing and hunting seasons was the cabin at Cornucopia, Wisconsin that Leonard built. Many are the fond memories of family and friends “up at Corny”.
Leonard was a charter member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.
He was preceded in death by his son, Gary (Denise); two infant daughters; parents; 8 sisters and one brother.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Eau Claire, WI; his daughter, Lorna (Darren) Zais of Eau Claire; son, Paul (Sue) of Cumberland, WI; Denise Koppa-Eckel of Augusta, WI; grandchildren, Jake (Kristy) Eckel of Augusta, WI, Sarah (Mike) Larson of Rogers, MN, Dustin (Heather) Henning of Eau Claire, Jesse (Amanda) Wilson of Hudson, WI, Seth Zais (Rikki) of Eau Claire, Gabe Eckel of Madison WI, Caleb Eckel of Madison, WI; great grandchildren, Brady Wilson, Alex Eckel and Olaf Larson.
Family Members
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Frances R. Eckel Haas
1915–1975
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Ellen L. Eckel Fretter
1916–2001
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Isabelle L. Eckel Keller
1917–2002
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Rosemary Eckel Mominee
1919–2003
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John Leo Eckel
1920–1997
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Caroline M. Eckel Burnard
1922–2000
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Katherine Elizabeth Eckel Greaves
1926–2007
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Geraldine G. "Jean" Eckel Vislay
1928–2013
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Marie M. Eckel Kopp
1930–1979
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