Ted N. Ekle, 63
Published 7:01 am Sunday, August 23, 2015
Ekle
Ted N. Ekle, 63, formerly of Lyle, Minnesota, passed away at 6:16 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, from complications of AML.
He was born May 29, 1952, in Austin, Minnesota, to Charles A. and Carol M. Oleson Ekle. He was raised in Lyle, Minnesota, and recently lived in Springfield, Illinois. He married Pat DeFord in Peoria, Illinois, on Aug. 25, 1979, and she survives.
Ted graduated from Luther College in 1974 and Sangamon State University in 1992 with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He was employed by Osco Drug until 1994 when he became self-employed with Primerica, where he enjoyed helping others financially.
He was an active member of Historic Grace Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois, where he taught confirmation, sang in the choir and served on various committees. He enjoyed music, golf, basketball, poker and euchre and had a passion for the outdoors.
He was preceded in death by his father; and brother, Tom Ekle.
As well as his wife, he is survived by three children: Eric Ekle of Basalt, Colorado, Jennifer (Jon) Jackson of Plainfield, and Lisa Ekle of Brooklyn, New York; mother, Carol Ekle of Lyle, Minnesota; sister, Paula (David) Johnson of Reedsville, Wisconsin; three grandchildren; father-in-law, Chellis DeFord; brother-in-law, David (Colleen) DeFord; sister-in-law, Jeanne Ekle; and several aunts, uncles; nieces and nephews.
A visitation took place Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, at Historic Grace Lutheran Church. A memorial service took place at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, at Historic Grace Lutheran Church with Pastor Thomas Christell officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Historic Grace Lutheran Church; Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle, Minnesota, 55953; or Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, 401 North Third Street, Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401, or online at www.friends-bwca.org/donate.
Ted was a counselor and guide at the Boundary Waters one summer after college where he accompanied others and youth from Historic Grace Lutheran Church in Springfield.