Russell Eckert

Sadly, for the first time, when we refer to the late Russ Eckert, it's not because he's running behind as usual. Russell Leroy Eckert, 77, passed away at St. Luke's Hospice House on November 25th after battling a variety of health issues, from cancer to Alzheimer's.

Russ was born in St. Louis on March 18th, 1941 to his parents Robert (Bob) and June (both of whom preceded him in death), with a younger brother, Robert (now deceased), and is survived by his beloved sister Janis Eden and her husband Rich.

Russ joined the Air Force in 1959 and trained at Whiteman AFB with the 805th Medical Group, where he made lifelong friends. He went to college in Warrensburg and got degrees in both Biology and English. There he met the love of his life and wife of 52 years, Judi Hoey, of Marshall, MO. While his father in law, Harold Hoey (deceased) borrowed from Archie Bunker and called him Meathead for quite a while, he was welcomed into the family with much love (and good humor,) by Harold, his mother-in-law Liz (deceased) and brother-in-law Randy Hoey (and soon after his sister-in-law Candy!)

After college, Russ taught high school and served as principal in Hardin and Boonvillle area, as well as coaching basketball, football, and any sports short of a coach. He played in fast pitch softball leagues for many years, joined some bowling leagues, and loved to golf. In 1977, Russ and Judi moved to Blue Springs to raise their daughters, Jill & Robin, where he changed careers and sold industrial tools, first at Bossert in Kansas City, which was purchased by Grainger, and then at Deco Tool Supply in Lee's Summit before retiring.

Russ was a loving father to Jill and Robin, (both of whom he endowed with a love of reading, learning and creativity, as well as difficulty being on time, and a stubborn streak) and treasured his sons-in-law, Matt Furedy and Todd Wahrenbrock. He was the proud grandfather of Van and Circe, whom were born to Robin and Todd, very prematurely, in 2012 (weighing in at just over 1 pound each) and toted around their tiny diapers for a year to show off their size with amazement. After much time in the NICU for them and his own treatments at the time for esthesioneuroblastoma, he was able to dote on them and spoil them for the past 6 years.

Russ loved traveling with Judi, music, art, books and poetry, nature (his yard and koi pond were sources of pride and joy for many years) and animals (from his pets to the hummingbirds visiting his backyard feeders), but most importantly loved his family and friends fiercely. He thrived on entertaining people and making them laugh and his own boisterous laugh quickly identified him in a room! Russ never met a stranger, and started conversations with everyone, often finding hidden connections to mutual friends, family, or familiar places. His charm, positive attitude, laughter and love will be sorely missed by so many people.