Eugene Ecklun

A funeral service for Eugene Ecklun will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Jan Gluth King and Pastor Murray Jones officiating. Interment will follow at Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County, Nebraska.

The funeral service will be livestreamed via Bethel Lutheran Church's Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/Bethel.Holdrege

Theodore "Eugene" Ecklun, 93 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2025 at Holdrege Memorial Homes. Eugene was born on April 10, 1932, on a farm north of Holdrege, the youngest of two children born to John Theodore and Hazel Belle (Bliss) Ecklun. He was raised on the family farm and lived on that farmstead for 81 years.  He learned the value of hard work early in life, when he began farming at the age of 16, due to his father's blindness.

Eugene was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege. He received his education from country school District #77 at Bunker Hill through the 8th grade and then Holdrege High School, graduating with the class of 1949.

On April 10, 1955, Easter Sunday and his birthday, Eugene married Rosemary Verbeck at Bethel Lutheran Church. Together, they celebrated 70 years of marriage and built a beautiful life, raising two children: Patti and Mike. The family made their home on the Ecklun farmstead, where Eugene engaged in farming and was proud to have farmed alongside his son and grandsons.

Eugene was a jack-of-all-trades; there wasn't anything he couldn't fix! He enjoyed carpentry and in 1965, he built the house he and Rosemary lived in on the farm. In 2012, they moved into Holdrege. In 2019, Eugene began to reside at Holdrege Memorial Homes.

He was a faithful member of Bethel Lutheran Church for 70 years. He served on many boards throughout his life including: the Bethel Lutheran Church Council, the Moses Hill Cemetery Board, the Moses Hill Telephone Company, the Laird Township Board, the Phelps County Extension Board, and the R-6 School Board.

But the most important thing in his life was family. He was quick to praise what a wonderful wife and family he had. Eugene leaves behind a legacy built on hard work, unwavering faith, and unconditional love for his family.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his in-laws, Charles and Elsie (Erickson) Verbeck; his sister, Margie Erickson and her husband, Chester and their infant son, Harry; brother-in-law, Daniel Verbeck; and sister-in-law, Lillian Pelowski.

Eugene leaves to celebrate his life, his wife, Rosemary of Holdrege; his daughter, Patti Moderow and her husband, Roger of Oakland, Nebraska; his son, Mike Ecklun and his wife, Nancy of Holdrege; two grandsons: Chris Ecklun and his wife, Lindsay; and Matt Ecklun and his wife, Bre all of Holdrege; two granddaughters: Becky Moderow of Liberty, Missouri; and Libby Moderow of Lincoln, Nebraska; six great-grandchildren: Isaac and Sam Ecklun; Luke, Carli, and Liam Ecklun; and Nikki Holley; sister-in-law, Margery Verbeck of Holdrege; brother-in-law, Don Pelowski of Holdrege; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

Memorials in Eugene's honor are kindly suggested to Holdrege Memorial Homes; the Holdrege Volunteer Fire Department; or donor's choice.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.