Leo Albert Eckhardt was born to parents Elmer and Ida (Berndt) Eckhardt at Blue Earth, Faribault County, Minnesota. He was baptized as an infant at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Emerald Township of Faribault County, and was confirmed in 1954 at Immanuel Lutheran. He attended School District #97 of rural Blue Earth, Minnesota. Leo began farming at the young age of 14, when he rented his uncle's farm in the Blue Earth area. He also was the local grave digger, getting the small wage of $10.00 per grave. Sometimes he would engage his brother, Norman, into helping him. In 1970, he moved to his present farm in Maxwell Township of Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. Leo was a unique person. He loved watching his horses and cattle. He enjoyed his gun collection and going to auctions and sales. He loved the farm and enjoyed a few chickens, five geese, three guineas, and one duck. His sense of humor was one of his best characteristics. Have you ever heard of a "Leo piece of cake"? And it wasn't a small piece. Once he took his own pitcher of water and a piece of cake to "Trailways" so that they would know how to serve water and cut the piece of cake the way it should be! He loved baking and once took first place in a local "Pie Contest". His sense of humor carried over into his pet dog(s). He had a sign on his garage that read "Leo and Max" and every dog he had was named "Max", so he never had to change the sign. He found humor in getting John and Ellen up at 6:00 a.m. when he would visit. Leo passed away at his home in Maxwell Township on Friday evening, October 5, 2001, at the age of 61 years, 6 months and 14 days. This had been his home for the past 30+ years. He is survived by his special friend and sister-in-law Phyllis Eckhardt and her family, Ellen and Vic Wyffels, Chad and Lindsey, and John and Cheryl Eckhardt, Adam and David; his sister Lois (and Dean) Hammond and their family Jane and Derin Steffen, John and Nancy Hamond, and Beth and Kevin Neil and Christen; sister LouAnn (and Bill) Ogilvie, Jason and Justin; brother Paul Eckhardt; sister-in-law Rosemary (and Karl) Kusreau, April and Angie Eckhardt; and uncle and aunt Gordon and Alice Berndt; and aunt Madeline Schwartz. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Carol Jean and brothers Norman and Wayne; and several uncles and aunts. Leo will be missed by many family and friends. He was a quiet, but unique person. He loved life and shared it with many by his sense of humor and caring ways. Blessed be his memory. Visitation Monday, October 8, 2001, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Prayer Service 7:00 p.m. Lynner Funeral Home, Clarkfield, Minnesota Funeral Service Tuesday, October 9, 2001 * 1:30 p.m. Lynner Funeral Home Chapel, Clarkfield, Minnesota Officiating, Pastor Randy Maland (Zion Lutheran Church) Organist, Norma Streich Honorary Casket Bearers Dennis Enevoldson, Richard T. Hanson Brad Lundy, Harold Ziems Casket Bearers James Bach, Troy Bach Hubert Hoff, Wally Kuno Leonard Liebl, Jim Roth Final Resting Place Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Tyro Township Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota