Our Heavenly Father called Norman Elmer Eckhardt out of this vale of tears to His eternal home, on Thursday, October 9th, 1986. Norman was born August 1, 1938, at the Blue Earth Hospital, Blue Earth, Minnesota, to Elmer and Ida (Berndt) Eckhardt. He was baptized August 21, 1938, at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Emerald Township, rural Blue Earth. He was confirmed on June 1, 1952, at Immanuel Lutheran Church by Rev. W.E. Heidern. Norman attended school at District 97 in rural Blue Earth and graduated from the American School of Chicago. He married Phyllis Abbie Kienitz on August 21, 1960, at Bricelyn Lutheran Church in Bricelyn, Minnesota. Norman farmed near Blue Earth until April of 1972, when he and his family moved to Clarkfield, Minnesota, where he continued to farm. He also enjoyed his hobbies of flying his plane and working with guns. Preceding him in death were his parents, Elmer and Ida, and one sister, Carol Jean. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Clarkfield; two children, Ellen and Victor Wyffels of Kerkhoven, Minnesota, and John and Cheryl Eckhardt of Granite Falls, Minnesota; and two grandsons, Chad Wyffels and Adam Eckhardt. Also surviving are three brothers, Leo of Boyd, Minnesota, Wayne of Princeton, Minnesota and Paul of Duluth, Minnesota; two sisters, Lois Hammond of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and LouAnn Ogilvie of Worthington, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral Service: Sunday, October 12, 1986, Zion Lutheran Church, Tyro Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Officiating: Rev. Charles F. Simmons Organist: Miss Norma Streich Vocal Music: Alfred, Scott and Veryl Jessen "How Great Thou Art" Congregational Hymn: "Onward Christian Soldiers" Final Resting Place: Zion Lutheran Cemetery Tyro Township Yellow Medicine County Minnesota Casket Bearers: Wenzel Andersen, Jerry Just David Hildahl, Merlyn Laechelt Marvin Hildah, Emil Streich Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota