Herbert Eckert

HERBERT L. ECKERT

Cedar Rapids

Herbert L. Eckert, 97, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, at Cottage Grove Place after an extended illness.

He was a longtime member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, where a memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, in the church chapel, by the Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer. Cremation rites were accorded by Iowa Cremation.

Herbert is survived by his daughters, Judy (John) Zimdars of Plymouth, Minn., and Susan (Jim) Moss of Cedar Rapids; granddaughter, Megan (Arturo) Lapham-Alvarez of Las Vegas, Nev.; and a great-grandson, Mateo Alvarez.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Irene; a daughter, Kathryn Lapham; and a sister, Lorraine.

Herbert was born July 2, 1920, in Cedar Rapids to Lloyd and Tressa (Miller) Eckert. He graduated from Franklin High School and Iowa State College, with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. Herbert enlisted in the Army Air Force and served from November 1942 to April 1946, ending up in Guam with the 20th Air Force Division. Herbert was united in marriage to D. Irene Werner on Sept. 11, 1948, in Cedar Rapids.

After the war, he started as a lab technician for La Plant Choate and retired as senior project engineer in the hydraulic heavy construction industry after 37 years with La Plant Choate, Allis Chalmers and Harnischfeger.

Herbert joined Iowa Rails to Trails in 1983 and volunteered over 3,300 hours in helping the Cedar Valley Nature Trail become a reality, clearing brush, rebuilding a burned bridge, putting railings on bridges, spreading gravel and doing trail maintenance. In 1990, he helped organize the Linn County Trails Association and devoted many hours to their various projects.

In 1985, he designed and oversaw construction of the bandstand at Usher's Ferry Historic Village, named after his great-grandfather, Dyer Usher, and worked on many other projects in the village.

In 1988, he designed and oversaw construction of a bridge at Indian Creek Nature Center and worked on many other projects over the years. Also in 1988, he helped with the first Habitat for Humanity house in Cedar Rapids and worked on seven other rehabilitations and one new house over the next five years.

Herbert spent many hours at Camp Hitaga. where he designed and oversaw construction of eight new cabins and improvements at Wohelo and Dining lodges.

He enjoyed golf, tennis and especially camping with his family, spending many happy times in numerous places throughout the Midwest and West, including Green Mountain Falls, Colo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Indian Creek Nature Center or Usher's Ferry Historic Village.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.iowacremation.com under Obituaries.