John Elton Ecklund

Anna Maria, Florida

John Ecklund passed away unexpectedly on January 20, 2012 in Bradenton, Florida.

Born in Flint, Michigan on June 5, 1949, John always loved being outside. He played ball with children in his Flint neighborhood and spent many summers at the cottage on Bear Lake fishing, boating, and swimming. John graduated from Flint Northern High School in 1967 and Michigan State University’s School of Natural Resources in 1973. He went on to a career with and retired from the State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as a water quality specialist. He spent countless hours outdoors testing the quality of Michigan’s waters. Known to his colleagues as “Moose,” John was often the coach of the softball team and organizer of all things fun. He loved people and often found himself spending time with and enjoying the company of others, particularly at art and music festivals. John also enjoyed his solitude as he could spend hours in the northern woods in the spring searching for elusive morels or trying to catch the big one during the June hex hatch on the Manistee River or in the early morning hours on the Florida beaches of his beloved Anna Maria searching for the perfect shell, or lost in a good book. In life, you wanted John on your side because he was always supportive and there when you needed him. His laugh and wry wit will always be in our hearts.

John was the loving and devoted father of Karl (Rachel) Ecklund and Shannon McGuire. He is survived by his brothers Tom (Diane) and Jim (Karen), mother-in-law Catherine McGuire, sister-in-laws Angela McGuire, Mary Catherine (Dzintars) Gendrikovs, and Colleen (Tony) Tinnin, brother-in-laws John McGuire, and Mike (Tressa) McGuire, and Karl’s mother Linda Ecklund, loving nephews and niece David, Dean, Peter, Joseph, Mitchell, Charlie (Erin), Kelly, Ian, Connor, Cary, Sean, and Leah, and great niece Claire. John was preceded in death by this wife Erin (McGuire) Ecklund, parents Clare and Betty (Dagwell) Ecklund, and father-in-law Dr. James McGuire.

A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, February 1, 11:00 a.m. at St. Katherine’s Episcopal Church, 4650 N. Meridian Rd.,Williamston, with the Rev. Ronald Byrd, Sr. officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 31, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E. Grand River Ave, East Lansing, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Bradenton Beach Library Board, c/o Tingley Memorial Library, 111 2nd Street North, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217 in John’s memory. On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com.