Obit: Eckberg, John (1948 - 1982)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Eckberg, Guest, Rethmeier

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/27/1982

Eckberg, John (1 May 1948 – 14 May 1982)

The 34-year-old husband of a former Neillsville woman died May 14 of a heart attack that resulted from complications of a viral infection.

Succumbing was John Eckberg, a St. Cloud, Minnesota, attorney and husband of the former Theresa Guest of Neillsville.

Eckberg has been in the St. Cloud Hospital since May 5 before being transferred to the University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis on the morning of his death. Eckberg’s death came as a shock since “we were told that the illness wasn’t that serious and that he would be back to work in a couple of weeks,” said Dan Rethmeier, Eckberg’s law partner.

Much of Eckberg’s law practice centered on real estate work.

Eckberg’s wife, Theresa, gave birth to a daughter, Linsey, on May 6, the day after Eckberg entered St. Cloud Hospital. He saw his daughter for the only time on May 7.

Eckberg was born on May 1, 1948, in Minneapolis. He married Theresa Guest in June 15, 1974, Neillsville ceremonies. He was a 1970 graduate of Hamline University of St. Paul and in 1975 from William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul. After graduating, he joined his father’s law practice in st. Cloud.

Survivors include his wife, daughters Erika and Lindsey, mother, brother and grandmother. He was preceded in death by his father, a brother and a daughter, Janel.

Funeral services were held on May 18 from the First United Methodist Church, St. Cloud, with burial in that community.