Rev. John E. Eck CSV

Fr. Eck was the son of John and Jewelle (DeFrates) Eck. He is survived by his sister, Patricia Precht of Decatur, IL and his brothers, Donald of Salem, OR and Richard of Tulsa, OK, and many nieces and nephews. His parents and his brother, Eldon, preceded him in death.

Fr. Eck professed his first vows on September 8, 1955 and was ordained by Bishop Cletus O’Donnell in Chicago on June 8, 1963. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Loyola University, Chicago, and an M.A. in Counseling from Western Illinois University, Macomb. He taught at Spalding Institute, Peoria, IL (1958-59), before entering the Viatorian Seminary (1959-1963). He returned to teaching at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL (1963-1966) and Alleman High School in Rock Island, IL (1966 to 1978). From 1978 to 1983, he served as Director of Affiliates and Novice Master for the Province. For the next seven years (1983-90), he taught at Prologue High School in Chicago. Fr. Eck served as Parochial Vicar at St Joseph Church, Springfield, IL (1990-98) and St. Viator Parish, Chicago (1999-2005) before being named Pastor of St. Viator Parish from 2005-2009. He retired in 2009 to St. Patrick Parish in Kankakee, IL. In 2016, he moved to the Viatorian Province Center retirement residence in Arlington Heights, IL.

Visitation for Fr. Eck will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, October 10, 2022 at the Viatorian Province Center, 1212 E. Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.