Henry Eckert

Veteran Staff Sergeant Henry Eckert passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord at Southwood Hospice in Calgary, Alberta at the age of 86. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him. He was affectionately loved by his wife Geraldine Eckert of 58 years and deeply admired by his four daughters Jari-Lynn (Michael), Lee Ann, Bonnie (Jack), and Kimberly Joy (David). He will be lovingly remembered by his seven granddaughters and one grandson, one great-granddaughter and three great-grandsons. Henry has been reunited in Heaven with his grandson who predeceased him in 2007.

Henry was born in Verdant Valley, Alberta to German immigrant farming parents. The family relocated to the Duchess, Alberta district and after high school, Henry joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). In 1957, he was posted to Dauphin, Manitoba, where he met and married former nurse, Geraldine Lee of Minnedosa, Manitoba. A highlight of Henry’s career was when he was selected as a member of an eight man unit to represent the RCMP at the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels, Belgium. Henry resided in Winnipeg, Manitoba with his family at the end of his 28 years of honourable service. After his retirement from the RCMP, Henry was appointed the Coordinator of Emergency Measures of Manitoba organization and served his community for seven years in this role. In 1991, Henry and Geraldine moved to Calgary, Alberta to be with their daughters who had moved out west.

Henry believed in the value of education and in 1971 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours from the University of Winnipeg, and in 1975 a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba. Henry’s love of learning continued throughout his life and he was well read with a particular passion for theology. His collection of books is a testament to his strong faith and his desire to know and serve God fully.

Henry used his gifts of teaching and speaking in different ways throughout his life. In Henry’s early days, he was a resource person and speaker for the Christian Business Men of Canada. He also taught adult Sunday school classes, led pre-marriage counseling classes, and served as a deacon and lay pastor in the field of discipleship ministry in his church. He was also a professor at the Nazarene College in Winnipeg were he taught evening classes in the sociology department. After retirement, Henry and his wife cared for their grandson who was profoundly disabled. Through this experience, Henry’s passions turned to advocacy for those without a voice thereby bringing the profound needs of children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities to the attention of government officials and agencies. In particular, he became immersed in volunteer work as a board member for the Calgary Regional Board for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Until his health failed, he also served as a director for his local MLA and volunteered at Fort Calgary as a Veteran RCMP.

Those who knew Henry encountered a man who exemplified cheerfulness, kindness, integrity, unselfishness, and generosity. He was interested in everyone he met and quick to help anyone in need. He was a perpetual optimist, even as he battled cancer in his final years. If you asked him why he lived the way he did, he would have told you that it was because of Jesus. Henry’s greatest legacy to his family and to all who knew him was his deep and unwavering faith in God and the saving grace of Jesus.

A Memorial Service will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., with interment to follow at Queens Park Cemetery. Arrangements are in care of Fosters Garden Chapel.

Henry’s heart for those who needlessly suffer because of physical disabilities was portrayed by his support of two charity organizations that were near and dear to his heart. The family requests that if friend’s desire, memorial tributes may be made to Operation Smile or Effect: Hope (Leprosy Mission of Canada).