Obituary

Viola M. Eck, 86, died Thursday (June 9, 2005) at Newton Medical Center. She was born Feb. 5, 1919, in Carnduff, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Jacob W. and Marie (Schroeder) Goertz. Her parents preceded her in death. She spent nearly all her life in the Newton area. She married Detrick Eck Aug. 31, 1951. He survives of the home. She was a member of First Mennonite Church in Newton and the Harvey County EHU, when it was active. She loved being a grandmother. She greatly enjoyed the grandkids' visits and made special birthday cakes for them. She was proud of their talents and successes in school. She had many artistic talents. She made wedding cakes and birthday cakes for many people in the Newton area, including the wedding cake for Barbara and David, her daughter and son-in-law. Many will miss her special nut cake. Her grandchildren loved her zwieback and Berliner Pankuchen. She enjoyed china painting, creating stained glass pieces and was a talented seamstress. She leaves behind many of her "homemade" treasures. She was especially proud of her collection of angels. Other survivors include: a son, Gary Eck of Newton; a daughter, Barbara and husband David Cooper of New Brighton, Minn.; a sister, Irene Schmidt of Newton; a brother, Kenneth Goertz of Frost Proof, Fla.; a grandson, Grant Cooper of New Brighton, Minn.; a granddaughter, Paige Cooper of New Brighton, Minn.; four sisters-in-law, Malinda Guhr of Newton, Evalina Suderman of Newton, Marie Matz of Kechi and Lillian Gunnels of Goddard; and a brother-in-law, Paul Eck of Fall River. She also was preceded in death by a sister, Verna Strang. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Mennonite Church with Pastor Joan Boyer of the church and the Rev. Verney Unruh, a retired Mennonite pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Restlawn Gardens of Memory. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, all at Petersen Funeral Home. Family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials have been established with First Mennonite Church and Mennonite Central Committee, both in care of the funeral home.