Mary Lea Eckert

Mary Lea Eckert left this world to join her Savior in heaven on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. Her loving husband, her “girls”, and the prayers of friends, family and her church family comforted her in her last days.She was born in Fond du Lac on September 23, 1926, the daughter of David A. and Leah P. Brookins Traxler. Mary Lea graduated from Fond du Lac Senior High School, Class of 1944 and attended the regular gatherings of their active alumni group. After high school, she worked at Rueping Leather Company, Fond du Lac, and Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago.On September 7, 1946, she married Kenneth Stoddart and became a homemaker and loving mother to her four daughters. Later, when her three oldest daughters were in school, she worked as a bookkeeper for Fred Christ T.V. She then did the bookkeeping for 35 years for Rich’s Engine Service, a small business that was started with her encouragement and became Rich’s Engine Service Inc., a well-known rebuilding, repair and parts shop.On February 28, 1970, she married Walter Richard Eckert, Jr. and added two stepdaughters to her family.Mary Lea was a member of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. She served as president of the former Junior Women’s Club. She enjoyed her flowers, especially her iris collection. She was a member of the Wisconsin Iris Society and received a blue ribbon for her white iris.She is survived by her husband; her daughters: Lynda Bacon Lawlis, Marcia (James) Pflum, Sue Stoddart, Karen (William) Rangel, Sonia Eckert (Wayne) Johnston, and Lynne A. Kottke. Her family grew to include 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; seven nieces, and two nephews. She is futher survived by her two sisters-in-law: Nancy (Albert) Green of Fond du Lac, and Claire Traxler of Albany, Illinois; a brother-in-law, David Miller of Fond du Lac; and an aunt, Myrtle Traxler of Perris, California.Preceding her in death were her parents; her brother, David B. Traxler; her in-laws, Walter R. Eckert, Sr., and Bernice Retzleff Eckert.A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2011, at St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church, 1600 South Main Street, Fond du Lac, with Rev. Michael Zuberbier officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends on Friday at church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service.Cremation has taken place with inurnment at Estabrooks Cemetery. .In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Winnebago Lutheran Academy, or a charity of your choice.Mary Lea’s family wishes to thank St. Agnes Hospice for the excellent care she received while enjoying her stay at home.

Mary Lea Eckert

September 23, 1926 - December 6, 2011