Warner Gordon Eckman

Warner Gordon Eckman, 89, beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 4, 2024 at Twin Lakes Healthcare Center surrounded by his loving family. Born on July 17, 1935 in Cook County, Illinois, Warner was the son of Astrid (nee Larson) and Waldamor G. Eckman. He grew up in Crete, Illinois, where he attended Crete-Monee High School, playing on their football team as an offensive guard during their 1953 Kankakee Valley Championship. He graduated from Purdue University where he met his wife of 67 years, Janet “Jan” Tharaldsen. 

After college, Warner was called up as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, so he and Jan relocated to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. After his time in the Air Force, Warner began his long career in the food industry as an engineer and a plant manager. He retired as Vice President of Operations at General Foods (now Kraft Heinz) at their headquarters in White Plains, New York. After retirement, Warner and Jan relocated to North Carolina where he enjoyed playing golf, reading, jogging, traveling and being a huge fan of Duke Basketball. More than all of that, he loved spending time with his family. 

Warner served for many years as a deacon, and was very active in his church. He was generous with his time, volunteering as a chapter leader for the local Habitat for Humanity in North Carolina.  

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children; Gretchen Porter and husband Ed, Tom Eckman and wife Nadya, and Linda Crowder and husband Jay, ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren; his sister Carolyn Schultz, his sister-in-law Marva Eckman, his brother Thomas Eckman and wife Janie, and many nieces and nephews. Warner was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James Eckman. 

The family will be having a service to celebrate his life at a later date. Memorials may be made to Headwaters Calvary Chapel https://graceguy.cc/donate (for the ministry of Warner’s son Tom to Iranian refugees)  or Habitat for Humanity https://www.habitat.org/. You may send condolences to www.lowefuneralhome.com.