Fifth Generation

143. Loren Edward ECKELBERG was born on 10 November 1921 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ He died on 2 July 1992 at the age of 70 in Mauston, Juneau County, WI.³⁴

Loren Edward ECKELBERG and Alvera Caroline WESTPHAL were married on 23 August 1958 in Dorset Ridge, Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^34,55 Alvera Caroline WESTPHAL, daughter of Otto Friedrich Karl WESTPHAL and Sophia Susanna BINDSCHAEDEL, was born on 2 February 1924 in Dorset Ridge, Clifton Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶⁰ She died on 28 March 2022 at the age of 98 in Kendall, Glendale Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶⁰ Obituary Notes: "Alvera Caroline Eckelberg, 98, of Kendall, was called to her heavenly home on Monday, March 28, 2022 with her children at her side. She was born on February 2, 1924 to Otto and Susie (Bindschaedel) Westphal on the family farm on Dorset Ridge in Clifton, Township, Monroe County. Alvera was baptized at home and confirmed at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church on Dorset Ridge. She attended the Dorset Ridge Elementary School and was a member of the Kendall High School Graduating Class of 1942.

Alvera married Loren Eckelberg at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church on August 23, 1958. Together they farmed in rural Kendall where they raised 3 children. He preceded her in death on July 2, 1992.

Alvera was a faithful member of St. John Ev. Lutheran Church and taught Sunday School for 25 years. She assisted at the Village of Kendall for the elections for many years. After Loren passed away at the age of 70, she decided to get her drivers license and did so at the age of 72. The driving instructor told her she took the award for being his oldest student.

Having practiced cooking all her life, her delicious home baked bread and home baked goods were deserving of blue-ribbon status, we especially loved her cracked ice salad. In her later years, she often sat in her rocker with her Bible, a good Karen Kingsbury book or cryptograms in her hand. Alvera will always be remembered as the heart of the family that kept them strong and bound together. Alvera had a constant faith and was the ultimate example to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for how they should live their lives.

She is survived by her children, Audrey (Chad) Marti of Wilton, Gary Eckelberg of Kendall, and Mark (Debra) Eckelberg of Wilton, 8 grandchildren, Sarah (Shawn) Squires, Christopher Marti, and Elizabeth (Bryan) Debaets, Jessica (Steven) Blankenship and Aaron (Ayaka) Eckelberg, Justin (Jesana) Eckelberg, Drew ( Alysa) Eckelberg, and Alex (his fiancé Katie Dockery) Eckelberg, 9 great-grandchildren, Theodore and Ellieanna Marti, Eden, Aspen, and Haven Blankenship, Evalyn Eckelberg, Harper, Hadley, and Hayden Eckelberg, and 2 expected great-grandchildren, a brother Carl (Carol) Westphal of Mary Esther, FL, 1 brother in law, Reinold Eckelberg and 3 sister in laws, Ruby Butterfuss, Lucille Hemerley, and Gladys (Roger) Kaus, along with many beloved nieces and nephews, and special friends Kenneth and Phyllis Toivonen, and the Vetter family.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son Arden, her sisters Gertrude Westphal, Ruth Cook, and Doris Matias, her brothers, Edward, Henry, Louis, and Lloyd Westphal, her sisters-in-law Irene, Blanche and Florence Westphal, and brothers-in-law Alvin Cook and Earl Matias.
The family would like to thank the staff of Tomah Health Hospice Touch for their excellent care during the past year.

A Service will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022, 11:00 A.M. at the St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, 297 E S Railroad St Kendall. Pastor Jacob Limpert will officiate. Burial will be in the Glendale Cemetery immediately following the service.

Relatives and friends are invited on Friday from 9:00 A.M until the time of the service. Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home of Kendall is assisting the family with the arrangements."

Loren Edward ECKELBERG and Alvera Caroline WESTPHAL had the following children: