Victor Eckert, 79, of Avon

Funeral services are 2 PM, Saturday, October 26, 2013 at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner. Burial is in the Gramkow-Vesper Lutheran Cemetery, rural Avon. Visitation is Friday with the family present from 6 to 7 PM at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner.

Victor Charles Eckert was born March 6, 1934 north of Avon, South Dakota, the son of Clarence and Alvina (Engel) Eckert. He died Saturday, October 19, 2013 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Wagner. Victor attained the age of 79 years, seven months and 13 days.

Victor attended a country school north of Avon. He married Doris Ehresmann at the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Tripp on January 1, 1954. Victor worked at the telephone company in Avon. He then worked in construction, building dams in Yankton, Pickstown and Pierre. He continued to build dams in Idaho, Montana and Oregon before moving back to South Dakota in 1968. He then worked for Kolberg Manufacturing in Yankton until he retired in 2001.

Victor will be remembered for his love of fishing with his family, hunting and giving his dog, Chance, rides in the lawn mower trailer.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife, Doris of Avon; two sons: Mark (Brenda) of Chuckey, TN; and Bruce and friend Leslie of Wimauma, FL; daughter, Cindy (Wes) Sassaman of Avon; eight grandchildren: Chad Anderson of Wagner; Michelle (Jeff) Bathke of Mitchell; Janel Vaughan of Mitchell; Amy (Ryan) Townsend of Madison; Casey Sassaman of Avon; Tyler (Julia) Sassaman of Wagner; Richard (Cynthia) Eckert of Wimauma, FL; and Andrea (Jeffrey) Jackson of Wesley Chapel, FL; 13 great grandchildren; and several cousins.

Victor was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Loretta Houska; three brothers: Rodney, Earnest and Albert, who all died in infancy; father-in-law, Emil Ehresmann; and brother-in-law, Herman Ehresmann.