Gerald Leo Eckart

Jerry was a typical boy growing up in Pomona, CA, in the 1940’s and early 1950s, from playing with his group of small cars and trucks in the backyard to driving a gas engine go-cart built by his dad, riding it on a dirt track in a vacant parcel east of our house for hours until he ran out of gas. He got his first car, a used 1949 Ford, when he was 14 years old with a special driving permit to come home from school to help his dad in their small farming venture after moving to

Ontario, CA in 1952. Jerry continued the small farming venture after his dad passed away in 1958 until he enrolled at Cal Poly, Pomona campus, after graduating from high school.

According to his older sister, Faye, they didn't have close neighborhood kids to play with so they played together in the surrounding orange groves, building forts out of the wooden picking boxes, running in the furrows barefoot when the groves were being irrigated, riding their bikes on the then country streets, and playing outside until it got dark and their mama would call them to come in. Jerry also was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout enjoying the many activities of scouting.

When Faye and Jerry were about 8 and 10 years old, their mama parked the car on an incline at the grocery store and left them in the car while she did the shopping. Jerry decided to get behind the steering wheel and put his foot on the clutch and the car rolled back into the street (Garey Ave. a very busy street). They both got into trouble over that, of course Faye said "Jerry did it!"

Before Jerry went into the Army he would come by and take his 3 year old nephew, Steven, for rides in his car. Steven loved hanging out with his Uncle Jerry. One time Jerry stopped by and was going to the barber shop for a haircut and took Steve with him to get a haircut also. After that when Jerry would stop by and wanted to take Steve for a ride, Steve would shake his head and say "no" and wouldn't get in the his car from then on. Jerry loved his two nephews, Steven

and Michael, and spent a lot of time playing with them.

Jerry graduated from Chaffey High School in Ontario, CA in 1958. He went on to study agronomy at Cal Poly Pomona for three years. Then he was drafted into the army from 1963-1965. He was not shipped overseas to active duty because he was the only living son. He served at Fort Carson, Colorado where he earned the rank of of Sgt. E5. After college and the army, he worked at John Deere where he learned the mechanics behind equipment, and they were also a BJ Manufacturing dealership, which sold mixer feeder boxes for the dairy industry. In 1968, Jerry met Trudy Vander Stoel, and they were married on May 29, 1970 at Chino Christian Reformed Church. They made a home in Pomona, California and had their first daughter, Julie, in July of 1972. In 1973, BJ Manufacturing offered Jerry a job selling mixer feeders and manure spreaders to the seven western states. They moved to Visalia so they would be centrally located. They welcomed their second daughter, Robin, in February 1975. Because Jerry traveled for weeks at a time, when he was home he enjoyed cooking for his family and himself. HIs family referred to him as “The Grill King”. He could cook any piece of meat to perfection. Saturday nights were BBQ nights and his family enjoyed spare ribs with his secret sauce, chicken, and his favorite, anything beef. Jerry took pride in having a very green lawn with flowers planted everywhere. He continued to love to garden through his later years. For many years, Trudy had several fresh bouquets of flowers throughout her house.

Jerry continued to work for different companies that were connected to the dairy industry - Chemland, Harsh- until the early 2000’s. He also worked at Glick’s Old Fashioned Meats on the cash register.

In 2000, Jerry’s first grandson, Hayden was born on February 28, Jerry’s 60th birthday. Jerry and Hayden enjoyed daily rides to the Visalia Airport and the train tracks in Visalia. These rides were the only way Grandma and Grandpa could get Hayden to take a nap each day. Trudy and Jerry continued to babysit each of their grandkids, which they loved and their grandkids did also. They also loved going to Central Valley Christian School’s Grandparent’s Day each year where

they saw their grandkids perform but also to reconnect with old friends from down south. Jerry is survived by his wife of 46 years, Trudy, and his two daughters, Julie and Kent Houtsma and Robin and Gordon Atsma. Jerry has five grandchildren- Hayden, Kendall and Lilly Houtsma and Carson and Bryn Atsma.

Gerald (Jerry) Leo Eckart, 76, of Visalia, California passed away on Friday, November 11, 2016 in Visalia, California.

Gerald was born in Pomona, California on February 28, 1940 to Leo and Ruby Eckart. He was raised and educated in Pomona, graduating from Chaffey High School in Ontario, California in 1958. Gerald continued his education, attending Cal Poly Pomona. He served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1965, attaining the rank of Sgt. E5. On May 29, 1970, he married Trudy VanderStoel in Chino, California at Chino Christian Reformed Church. They moved to Visalia, California in 1973 where for over 30 years Gerald worked in the dairy industry selling mixer feeder boxes, manure spreaders, and dairy chemicals. When he retired, he worked at Glick’s Old Fashioned Meats running the cash register. He was a member of Trinity United Reformed Church of Visalia. He loved taking care of his yard and growing plants and flowers in his backyard.

He leaves behind his wife of 46 years, Trudy of Visalia; daughters Julie Houtsma and husband Kent of Visalia, CA and Robin Atsma and husband Gordon of Corcoran, CA; sister Faye Napper and husband Alton of San Jacinto, CA; five grandchildren Hayden, Kendall and Lilly Houtsma, Carson and Bryn Atsma.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity United Reformed Church of Visalia. Family interment will be held at Bakersfield National Cemetery in Arvin, CA on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 9:15 a.m.

Tributes and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia, CA 93291.