Phillip Eckles

Phillip Virgil Eckles the oldest son of five children of William and Verna Littrell Eckles was born Feb. 18, 1924, in Nelson. He died Nov. 28, 2022, at Parkview Nursing Home at the age of 98 years, 9 months, 10 days.

Phillip (Phil) graduated from Wilber High School with the Class of 1943. He then started his career with the Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Company which was interrupted by being drafted into the U.S. Army as a medic during WWII. After an honorable discharge from the Army, Phil resumed his telephone career. He retired in 1980.

He was married to Lenore Katherine Becker on Oct. 20, 1945, at St. Stephen's Church, Exeter, Nebraska. To this union one son was born, William Richard "Dick." They celebrated 60 years of marriage before her death. He found love again and was married to Gerry Peterson on Aug. 22, 2009, at Sacred Heart, Nelson.

Phil was a wonderful husband and father. A great outdoorsman who lived to go fishing, oftentimes in the summer getting up at 4 a.m., to go fishing for a couple of hours before going to work. He also enjoyed hunting upland game birds and waterfowl. Noting the interests of his son, he also became involved in searching for Native American artifacts as well searching with metal detectors for historic relics related to the Oregon Trail. Phil loved his grandchildren. They were special to him as he was to them. He provided them with fun things to do when they visited. All of the neighbor kids loved him as well, often times gathering at his house to play games in the big double lot yard.

     Phillip was preceded in death by his father, William; his mother, Verna; his wife, Lenore; his second wife, Gerry; his sisters, Betty Jo Pittam, Wilma Maxine McCutchan; and his brother John.

He is survived by his brother, William L. Eckles Jr .; his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Eckles; his son, Dick, (Carol); his grandchildren, Sarah (Ben) Van Horn, Julia (James) Merrill, and Daniel (Stephanie) Eckles; grandchildren, Emma and Haley Merrill, Greyson and Lisette Van Horn, and Madeline and Avaline Eckles. Also, his surviving stepchildren, Rhonda (Gordon) Brubacher, Lorrell (Maggie) Peterson, Sondra (Chelle) Peterson, Ruth (Randy) Peterson, stepchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nelson, with Rev. Ferdinard Boehme officiating. Lector will be Peggy Cassell, altar servers will be Jace and Joel Hoelting.

Music will be "Amazing Grace," "Gift of Finest Wheat," "How Great Thou Art," and "This is my Song,"

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., today (Thursday) with the family present from 5 to 6 p.m., to greet friends.

Interment with military honors will be in the Nelson Cemetery at Nelson.

Condolences may be sent to Klawitter-Price Funeral Home, 446 South Main St., Nelson, Neb. 68961 or in care of http://www.pricefuneral homes.com.

Klawitter-Price Funeral Home of Nelson, Nebraska was in charge of the arrangements.