Mrs. Chester Eckhardt

Mrs. Chester Eckhardt, 75, nee Mildred Klinksiek of Fredericksburg, died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. in St. Paul Lutheran Church at Cave Creek with the Rev. Gary E. Mayer officiating. Jeraldine Pehl was the organist.

Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of Schaetter Funeral Home where visitation was held on Thursday evening.

Mrs. Eckhardt was born Jan. 12, 1939, in Fredericksburg, the daughter of Helmuth Klinksiek and Elsie Keller Klinksiek. She was the first baby born in Fredericksburg that year.

She married Chester Eckhardt on May 5, 1984, in St. Paul Lutheran Church at Cave Creek, and he survives.

Mrs. Eckhardt began her working career at the Fredericksburg Radio Post while still in high school and continued there for 20 years. She then worked at Security State Bank and Trust for several years.

After her marriage, she joined her husband on the road in his trucking business and eventually became the office manager for Eckhardt Trucking.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by the following step-children and their spouses: Allen and Cindy Eckhardt and Cathy and Steve Carter, all of Fredericksburg, and Gwen and Cliff Peck of Round Rock.

She is also survived by seven step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren, and the following brothers, sisters and spouses: Beatrice Schmidtzinsky of Aledo, Virginia and Richard Smith of Hye, and Clayton and Marge Klinksiek, James and Sue Ann Klinksiek and Marion and J.W. Ottmers, all of Fredericksburg.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Willow City Volunteer Fire Department or the charity of choice.

Pallbearers were Tim Garces, Thomas Gasten, Matt Hanrahan, Mike Mata, Martin Mata, Oscar Rubio and Tom Ross.