Fifth Generation

142. Robert Louis "Bob" ECKELBERG was born on 7 May 1920 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^186,257 He was baptized on 9 May 1920 in Monroe County, WI.¹⁸⁶ He died on 2 January 2011 at the age of 90 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁵⁷

Obituary Notes: "Robert L. Eckelberg, 90, of Tomah died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, at Close To Home, Tomah. He was born May 7, 1920, the first of nine children to Louis C. and Ruth (Westpfahl) Eckelberg at Wilton. He was baptized at home on May 9, 1920, by Rev. Boganz. He was confirmed at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Kendall by Pastor Louis Witte. Robert grew up on farms in the Wilton, Tomah, Baraboo and Kendall areas. He graduated from 8th grade at Glendale Grade School, Kendall. Robert worked on the home farm for several years and then was in the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1938-1940. After leaving the CCC, he was employed by farmers in the Barre Mills area. In 1945 he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Germany with the occupation forces, He was honorably discharged in 1946. He was united in marriage to Margaret M. Wehrs on Oct. 20, 1945, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Barre Mills. They were blessed with five daughters, De Ette, Eileen, Gail, Judy and Laura. After discharge from the Air Force Robert was employed at Auto Light in La Crosse for five years. In 1951 Robert joined the USDA. His first assignment was in Milwaukee as a meat inspector. He also worked in Winona, Minn., St. Paul, and Hettinger, N.D. He retired in 1980 after 30 years. Robert was actively involved in the churches to which he belonged. At St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Winona, he was one of the original leaders of the Lutheran Boy Pioneers, Wagon Train #6. At Emmanuel Lutheran in St. Paul, he was on the finance committee and served in various positions at Redeemer Lutheran in Hettinger. Robert was a staunch supporter of christian education. Robert enjoyed playing cards, fishing, gardening and bowling as recreational pastimes. He also enjoyed traveling and camping with his family. Robert and Margaret also traveled on several bus trips to various parts of the country. In 1995 Robert and Margaret moved to Tomah to be near family. Margaret died Aug. 18, 1998. Robert married Ruth Kortbein in 1999; she preceded him in death in 2004. Robert enjoyed noon meals, playing cards and companionship at the Tomah Senior Center.

He is survived by four daughters: Eileen Wurster of Dawson, Minn., Gail ( Steve) Vander Wal of Clinton, Utah, Judy Heth of Gary, S.D., and Laura (Glenn) Jacobsen of Plano, Ill; grandchildren Wendy (John) Graf, Miles (Kathy) Wurster, Amy (Jason) Snodie, Andrea Vander Wal, Zach (Talaya) Vander Wal, and Stephen (Lisa) Vander Wal, Bill Heth and Nathan (Donya) Heth, Robert, Katherine and Nichole Jacobsen; great-grandchildren Hope, John, Luke and Ginger Graf, Ella and Isabelle Wurster, and Aubrey Snodie, stepgreat-grandchildren: Lisett, Burt and Clayton Whitaker, a step-great great-grandson: Kaedyn Whitaker; a brother Reinhold (Wilmetta) Eckelberg of Montello; four sisters, Ruby Butterfuss and Lucile (Vernon) Hemerley, both of Tomah, Marie Neitzel of Onalaska, and Gladys (Roger) Kaus of Raleigh, N.C.; two sisters-in-law, Alvera Eckelberg, of Kendall, and Marion Eckelberg of Janesville; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret; his wife Ruth; his parents; a daughter De Ette Eckelberg; a great-granddaughter Livvie Graf; three brothers, Loren, Charles and Raymond Eckelberg; three brothers-in-law Gilbert Neitzel, William Kobleska, and Leonard Butterfuss; and a special friend Marlene Wilde.

Funeral services will be held (today) Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, 11a.m. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Avenue, Tomah. Pastor Curt Backhaus will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery with military honors by the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post # 201. Relatives and friends called on Wednesday from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St. Tomah, and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of the service. Online condolences may be given to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. The family requests memorials be given to St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church or St. Paul Ev. Lutheran School or a charity of your choice, in Robert’s memory."

Robert Louis "Bob" ECKELBERG and Ruth Eleanor ZILLMER were married on 5 September 1999 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ Ruth Eleanor ZILLMER, daughter of Leo Anton ZILLMER and Lela Mildred GROSSMAN, was born on 10 November 1921 in Cataract, Little Falls Township, Monroe County, WI.^34,87 She died on 17 November 2004 at the age of 83 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴

Obituary Notes: "Ruth E. Kortbein Eckelberg, 83, of Tomah, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004, at Close To Home. She was born Nov. 10, 1921, to Leo and Lela (Grossman) Zillmer at Cataract. She was united in marriage to Bernard Kortbein July 26, 1941, at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Ridgeville. He preceded her in death April 15, 1997. She married Robert Eckelberg on Sept. 5, 1999, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Tomah.

Ruth worked in food service in the summer at Fort McCoy. In 1988, she retired after 13 years in food service at the VA Medical Center, Tomah. She was a faithful member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church and a member of the Deborah Circle and the Ladies Aid. She was also a member of the Senior Citizens Club at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her husband, Robert, of Tomah; four sons, Dennis of West Bend, Kurtis (Michelle) of Cedar Falls, IA, Brian (Rebecca) of Fairchild and Brad of La Crosse; two daughters, Karen (LeRoy) Koepke of Estelline, SD, and Nancy (Alan) McCoy of Sparta; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; four step-daughters, Eileen (Luther) Wurster of Dawson, MN, Gail (Steve) VanderWal of Clinton, UT, Judy Heth of Miles City, MT, and Laura (Glenn) Jacobsen of Plano, IL; nine step-grandchildren; a brother, Spencer (Betty) Zillmer of Middleton; two sisters, Joan Rosenow of Waukesha and Betty (Robert) Nasgovitz of Taylorsville, KY; two sisters-in-law, Della Kortbein and Phyllis Zillmer, both of Tomah; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends..

She was preceded in death by her first husband; an infant daughter, Mary, and a brother, Wayne Zillmer.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 22, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave., Tomah. Pastor Donald R. Buch will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, and at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until time of the services."
She was buried on 22 November 2004 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Robert Louis "Bob" ECKELBERG and Margaret Marie WEHRS were married on 20 October 1945 in Barre Mills, Barre Township, La Crosse County, WI.^23,55,257 Margaret Marie WEHRS was born on 10 September 1922 in Barre Mills, Barre Township, La Crosse County, WI.^55,258 She died on 18 August 1998 at the age of 75 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^55,258 She was buried on 21 August 1998 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^55,259 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Robert Louis "Bob" ECKELBERG and Margaret Marie WEHRS had the following children: