Rodger Eckhardt

Rodger Leon Eckhardt
Wednesday, October 24, 2007

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CASPER -- Rodger Leon Eckhardt, 72, died in an automobile accident on Oct. 19, 2007.

He was born Feb. 23,1935 in Monmouth, Ill., to Louie Walter Eckhardt and Ada Opal (Murrell) Eckhardt, the sixth of 13 children.

The family traveled to various states and finally settled in Torrington in 1945, where he attended school.

In 1952, he and his brother, Richard, joined the Navy and were discharged in 1956 from the USS Mississippi.

He met the love of his life, Mildred Dillman, "The Blonde," through his sister, Annetta. They were married April 29,1956, and had three children.

He was a mechanic all of his life. He owned a diesel shop in Burns and was also a deputy in there.

His hobbies, in addition to hunting, were drag racing, rebuilding old cars, pickups and roadsters.

He was the Wyoming state quick draw champion in 1963. He loved teaching his grandsons all of his mechanical tips.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years of Casper, a son, Rock Eckhardt and his wife of Casper, two daughters and their husbands, Roxie Camp of Casper and Ronda Hanson of Jackson; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, his mother-in-law, many nieces and nephews and brothers and sisters, Bill, Danny, Rich, Rodney, Wanda, Annetta, Linda and Silva.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Roy and Frank and sister, Loretta.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials be sent to his loving wife, Mildred Eckhardt, 2000 East F Street, Casper, 82601.

Newcomer Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.