Obituary for Dr. Louis Gene Ecker
ECKER, DR. LOUIS GENE, age 87, died peacefully at Woodland Hospice surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and FloraBelle (Emigh) Ecker; brothers Kenneth, Gordon, Donald, Larry; sister Joyce; granddaughter Melissa Blizzard Hodges; and stepmother Mary Ecker.
Dr. Ecker proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955 where he learned the ability to teach others and made it his lifelong passion. He graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, IN with a B.S. and M.A. degrees in four years’ time in 1959. He married the love of his life, Joy Sue McCune March 1958. They had just celebrated 63 years of marriage. After graduation, they moved to Garden City, Michigan where he taught Industrial Education to Jr. and Sr. High students for 3 years. His last year there, he had 2 senior high school students win the National Plymouth Trouble Shooters Contest involving solving malfunctions in car engines in a timed setting. This gave him much recognition with the Chrysler Plymouth Organization, and he helped many years with that contest for high school students.
In 1963 to 1965 he taught at The Ohio State University and graduated with his PhD in 1965. He then taught at Eastern Michigan University from 1965 to 1968 before moving to Central Michigan University where he taught until retirement. He served as Department Chairman of the Industrial Education and Engineering department for several years and was involved in many university committees.
He was active in the First Presbyterian Church and served as an elder and then transferred to the Mt. Pleasant Community Church. There, he led the Green Team and planted, trimmed, and oversaw much of the yard work following the building of the new addition. He volunteered working many hours for Habitat for Humanity in and around Mt. Pleasant and in Ft. Myers, FL when he was there in the winter months. He was given the Golden Hammer award for his dedication.
He loved hunting, fishing, working and gardening. He also raised and trained hunting dogs.
Lou and Sue were blessed with wintering in Florida for 25 years, dodging the Michigan winters.
Family was especially important to Lou. Get togethers at Coldwater Lake and on Pine Island, Florida were looked forward to greatly. His memory will be cherished and kept alive by his wife Joy Sue McCune Ecker; his children Michael (Laurie) Ecker, Shelly (Andy) Blizzard; loving grandchildren: Eric, Emily (Lucas), Ellyn, Nathan, Adam “Pickelo Pete”, David (Jacqui); great-grandchildren Guinevere and Everett Blizzard and Austin Hodges. His family feels blessed to have had his faithful guidance and love throughout their lives. Lou never met a stranger. He always met you with a smile and a pleasant comment to start a conversation. He will be remembered as a man of many principles and wise or witty sayings.
The Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 12 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Community Church with Pastor Wally Hostetter officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow at the church. Friends may meet the family beginning at 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Woodland Hospice House. Envelopes will be available at the church and the funeral chapel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and FloraBelle (Emigh) Ecker; brothers Kenneth, Gordon, Donald, Larry; sister Joyce; granddaughter Melissa Blizzard Hodges; and stepmother Mary Ecker.
Dr. Ecker proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955 where he learned the ability to teach others and made it his lifelong passion. He graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, IN with a B.S. and M.A. degrees in four years’ time in 1959. He married the love of his life, Joy Sue McCune March 1958. They had just celebrated 63 years of marriage. After graduation, they moved to Garden City, Michigan where he taught Industrial Education to Jr. and Sr. High students for 3 years. His last year there, he had 2 senior high school students win the National Plymouth Trouble Shooters Contest involving solving malfunctions in car engines in a timed setting. This gave him much recognition with the Chrysler Plymouth Organization, and he helped many years with that contest for high school students.
In 1963 to 1965 he taught at The Ohio State University and graduated with his PhD in 1965. He then taught at Eastern Michigan University from 1965 to 1968 before moving to Central Michigan University where he taught until retirement. He served as Department Chairman of the Industrial Education and Engineering department for several years and was involved in many university committees.
He was active in the First Presbyterian Church and served as an elder and then transferred to the Mt. Pleasant Community Church. There, he led the Green Team and planted, trimmed, and oversaw much of the yard work following the building of the new addition. He volunteered working many hours for Habitat for Humanity in and around Mt. Pleasant and in Ft. Myers, FL when he was there in the winter months. He was given the Golden Hammer award for his dedication.
He loved hunting, fishing, working and gardening. He also raised and trained hunting dogs.
Lou and Sue were blessed with wintering in Florida for 25 years, dodging the Michigan winters.
Family was especially important to Lou. Get togethers at Coldwater Lake and on Pine Island, Florida were looked forward to greatly. His memory will be cherished and kept alive by his wife Joy Sue McCune Ecker; his children Michael (Laurie) Ecker, Shelly (Andy) Blizzard; loving grandchildren: Eric, Emily (Lucas), Ellyn, Nathan, Adam “Pickelo Pete”, David (Jacqui); great-grandchildren Guinevere and Everett Blizzard and Austin Hodges. His family feels blessed to have had his faithful guidance and love throughout their lives. Lou never met a stranger. He always met you with a smile and a pleasant comment to start a conversation. He will be remembered as a man of many principles and wise or witty sayings.
The Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 12 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Community Church with Pastor Wally Hostetter officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow at the church. Friends may meet the family beginning at 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Woodland Hospice House. Envelopes will be available at the church and the funeral chapel.