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Memorial services for J.E. Ecklin, 95, of Lenox, were held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Cummings Family Funeral Home in Lenox. A time of gathering for friends was held from 1 p.m. until the service time. Inurnment was held at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.
Memorials may be directed towards EveryStep Hospice in Mount Ayr. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.cummingsfamilyfuneralhome.com under “Obituaries.”
John Edwon (J.E.) Ecklin was born Sept. 2, 1929, to Frank Gilpon and Verla Grace (Hays) Ecklin on a farm northeast of Conway.
He had an older half-sister, Frances and a younger sister, Arlene.
He attended four rural elementary schools and attended two years of high school in Clearfield. Due to the death of his father in 1947, J.E. was unable to complete high school and took over the farm.
He married Bernadine (Routh) on Sept. 21, 1950, at the Creston Methodist Church.
He lived on the family farm for 50 years, from 1943 to 1993, until he retired and moved to Lenox.
J.E. and Bernadine farmed as partners northeast of Clearfield. While farming, he also sold Moorman’s Feed, was a Calvary Go-Getters 4-H Club Leader, a member of Old Thyme Power, Clearfield Lions and camped and drove shuttle busses for many years at the Iowa State Fair. He was a Clearfield Happy Camper and had a love for travel including several overseas trips.
He was self-taught on guitar, dobro, mandolin and harmonica and loved participating in jam sessions.
His lifelong goal was to be able to winter in the south. They spent over 30 years as winter Texans.
J.E. was preceded in death by his parents; his half-sister Frances Grace; brother-in-law Richard Bandy; granddaughter Janis Ecklin and in-laws, Bert and Pearl Routh.
J.E. is survived by his wife Bernadine; his four children: Johnny (Kathy) Ecklin, Judy Brewster, Joan (Stan) Mattes and Jerry (Tina) Ecklin; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Arlene Bandy and his nephew Mark.