Alvera Caroline Eckelberg, 98, of Kendall was called to her heavenly home Monday, March 28, 2022, with her children at her side.
She was born Feb. 2, 1924, to Otto and Susie (Bindschaedel) Westphal on the family farm on Dorset Ridge in the town of Clifton, Monroe County. Alvera was baptized at home and confirmed at Immanuel Evangelical 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 Evangelical Lutheran Church on Aug. 23, 1958. Together they farmed in rural Kendall, where they raised three children. He preceded her in death on July 2, 1992.
Alvera was a faithful member of St. John’s Evangelical 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 driver’s 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 who 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; eight 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 fiancée Katie Dockery) Eckelberg; nine great-grandchildren, Theodore and Ellieanna Marti, Eden, Aspen, and Haven Blankenship, Evalyn Eckelberg, Harper, Hadley, and Hayden Eckelberg, and two expected great-grandchildren; a brother, Carl (Carol) Westphal of Mary Esther, Fla.; one brother-in-law, Reinold Eckelberg; and three sisters-in-law, 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 her brothers-in-law, Alvin Cook and Earl Matias.
A service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 1, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 297 E. South 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 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.
