GARNER - Dennis A. Eckert, 56, of Garner died Wednesday (February 18, 2009) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 10 A.M., Saturday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner with Rev. Jim Allard, Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Burial will be in Woodbury Cemetery near Lyle, MN.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Friday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the funeral chapel.

Dennis Alden Eckert was born June 1, 1952, at Osage, the ninth of twelve children of Clarence and Fae (Anderson) Eckert. At an early age he moved with his family to Effie, MN. Dennis graduated from Big Fork High School in 1971 and Eveleth Vo-Tech for graphics in 1973. After graduation, he moved to Minneapolis where he worked for Hershfield Wallpaper Dist. and the Anoka-Hennepin School District as a printer. He later moved to Mason City where he worked for Wellborne Manufacturing. On May 23, 1992, he married Lesa Wood at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner. They made their home in Garner where they raised their three children. They later divorced. Dennis had recently retired from Winnebago Industries in Forest City after 20 years of employment.

He is survived by his three children, Lacie, Abagail and Devon Eckert of Garner; brothers, Ross Eckert of Coon Rapids, MN, Emery Eckert of Cedar Falls, Ervin "Pete" Eckert of Crystal, MN, Robert "Bob" Eckert of Anoka, MN and Marvin Eckert of Austin, MN; sisters, Donna Ciavarelli of Grafton, Jane Bork of Grafton, Judy Hrdlecka of Grafton, Gloria (Goldie) Cole of Big Fork, MN and Connie Fossey of St. Ansgar; aunts; uncles; nieces, nephews; and cousins.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Thera Betsinger. ... Read More