In a humble farmhouse in Birnamwood on Saturday, October 15th, 1938, Robert (Bob) Edward Eckardt was born to Caroline (Ecker) and Anton Eckardt. He was the third child followed by two brothers who passed away at birth. His childhood was filled with hunting chipmunks, digging worms to catch fish and at one point drank too much “grape juice” which was actually his mother’s medicinal wine. He was born a farm boy and a farmer he became. In 1948, he was the happiest 9-year-old boy when his dad bought a little white farm with 279 acres of land and hunting woods along the Wisconsin River in the Town of Maine. On this little farm he learned all that a farmer had to learn. He milked cows, did field work, fixed any and all pieces of equipment and engines, harvested all sorts of wildlife, trapped and tanned hides, shot bow, fished, lumber jacked and got into mischief with his best friend in life, his brother Jack. He walked to Red Granite school up the road and often had the job of fetching the school day’s water from the spring at the farm up the road. He attended Wausau High School. In November of 1959 he was introduced to the love of his life, Rosemary Sczygelski, while at a dance at Schmidt’s ballroom. They were engaged after attending Rosemary’s prom on May 14, 1960, and were married on the crisp windy day, October 22, 1960, at St. Francis Catholic Church on Main Street, in Merrill, Wisconsin. She was his perfect complement as they became Farmer and Farmwife making their livelihood together on his beloved little white farm which they bought from his parents. They raised five children together and expanded the farm by two barn additions, pole barn, a 70-foot silo, a 40-foot Harvestore, a 70-foot Harvestore, an 80-foot-wide circle manure pit, clearing one hundred acres for farmland and building an addition to the farmhouse to fit his family. He was a substitute school bus driver, covering the route for his brother Jack, and then he had his own route for a couple years. The farm officially became Eckardt Corporation in 1980. If that was not busy enough, he ran his own business, Eckardt Implement, from 1985-1989 as the only Allis Chalmers dealership in the area. He took a turn at public service, as the Town of Maine Chairman from April 1991 – 1993. He earned his scuba certification and scuba dived for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department. They sold the dairy cows in 1997 and young stock in 1999 to become full-time ginseng farmers. In 2009, he officially retired from ginseng farming at the age of seventy and took up collecting and restoring around forty-seven antique Allis Chalmers Tractors and other antique farming equipment. Bob was known by many names: Bobby, Dad, Big Dad, Uncle Bob, Buffalo Bob, Marshall (Dillon), Buck Eliminator. Bob was a beloved neighbor and friend and was often the first to be called when an expert tractor mechanic was required. He and Rose were active members of the Rib Mountain Bowman, where they made life-long friendships. They also spent their vacations as active Gold Wingers, traveling many joyful miles across the United States and Canada. Bob spent many retirement hours playing sheephead with his card buddies and chatting with many neighbors and friends who would stop by. Through all his life, Bob was an optimist. If you asked him how he was, he would undoubtedly say, “Tree-mendous.” He would greet you heartily on the phone, “Huntmore, Fishmore, Doolittle Incorporated, how may I help you?” and give any of the following send offs, “KGL705 over and out” or “Drive safe, look twice and third time”. He was called home to glory surrounded by his wife, children, oldest grandchild, and youngest great grandchild to be born July 2022.
He will be cherished by his beloved wife, Rosemary. Children: Janet Schmidt, Allan (Eileen) Eckardt, Karen (Paul) Cournaya, Gary (Sandi) Eckardt and Jenny (Collin) Niemeyer. Grandchildren: Sean Schmidt, Jocilyn (Matt) Klockziem, Gwen Schmidt (Jax Zebik), Justin, Jared and Aaron Eckardt, Rebecca (Casey) DeHart, Sarah (Shawn) Hoehn, Deveney and Sierra Eckardt, Karalyn (Matt) Hoenecke, Elly (Kaleb) Troyer, Laura (Jake) Thunder, Robert “Bobby” Niemeyer. Step Grandchildren Kelly (Melissa) Goetsch, Adam (Karissa) Goetsch, Peter Goetsch. Great Grandchildren: Alexis and Alyvia Klockziem, Kelly Yonke, Mason and Tanner DeHart, Henry and Aaron Hoehn, Jenna Hoenecke, Elijah Thunder and expecting 2 more in 2022. Step Great Grandchildren Audrey, Caroline, and Mina Goetsch. He followed these family members home to heaven: his mother and father, brother Jack Eckardt, sister Carol Goetsch, infant brothers Michael and Joseph Eckardt, daughter-in-law Lynnise (Hornung) Eckardt, grandchild Jordan Eckardt as well as several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 23, 2021 at St. Anne Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. Tom Lindner will preside. Visitation will be on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
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