Memorials › Wilfrid Joseph "Willy" Ekeler

Wilfrid Joseph "Willy" Ekeler

17 Feb 1938 – 13 May 2007

Birth17 Feb 1938
Death13 May 2007
CemeteryExeter Cemetery
Exeter , Fillmore County , Nebraska , USA
Added byM. Jensen Seggerman on 09 Apr 2014
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35608636

Bio

Obituary Wilfrid Joseph (Willy) Ekeler Wilfrid J. (Willy) Ekeler was born February 17, 1938 in Exeter to Anna C. (Bougger) and Frank Ekeler Jr. He passed away suddenly in Exeter, May 13, 2007, at the age of 60 years, 2 months, and 26 days on the same farm and less than hundred yards from where he was born. Willy attended St. Stephen's Catholic Elementary School and Exeter Public High School. He graduated in 1955. Willy was a lifelong member of St. Stephen's parish in Exeter and served many years on the church board. Willy entered the Army Reserves in 1961 and took his basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas. He returned to Exeter to assist his father in farming and took over the operations after his fathers death. He continued to farm until 1999, when he retired. Since 1999, he has assisted his son Greg at Ekeler Repair in Exeter. Willy also served on the Exeter Township Board for many years. On August 26, 1966, Willy was joined in marriage to Ruth Ann Conner of Friend. To this union, eight children were born, Michael, Gregory, Estelle, Jennifer, Catherine, Elizabeth, Monika, and Mary. Willy and Ruth celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in August 2006. Willy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. Before he was married, his nieces and nephews spent a lot of time on the farm with him and he enjoyed spoiling them, as he later would his grandchildren. Throughout his life, his favorite pastimes included spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren. He taught each of his children how to drive and spent countless hours in the passenger seat holding on. Attending his children's sporting event and other activities was very important to him and he rarely missed a game or track meet. Lately, he has enjoyed following his son Greg's two-man cruiser racing at Junction Motor Speedway. He also enjoyed watching birds and wildlife with his wife and trap shooting with his sons, sons-in-law, and grandsons. When Willy was still farming, he enjoyed taking the kids and later grandkids for rides in the tractor and showing the grandkids how to feed the cows. In the past couple of years, one of his hobbies was fixing up his lawnmower and turning it into a racing machine. He enjoyed showing it off to the kids and grandkids, as long as the grandkids agreed not to tell Grandma it didn't have breaks. He also enjoyed giving out candy to his grandchildren, often causing their parents to wonder why they weren't eating dinners. The grandkids loved to sit on his lap and have him read to them. Family and friends appreciated his calm demeanor and gentleness. One of the things Willy enjoyed most was early morning coffee in Exeter with his friends and relatives. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker football fan and never missed a game on television or radio and in his younger days, he also attended many games. Although he was a loyal fan whether they won or lost, one of his most recent dreams was seeing the Cornhuskers return to national championship status. He also liked to go fishing with family, and one of the times remembered by his grandkids was Grandpa catching a "BIG" fish that seemed a lot smaller than the ones they were catching. Willy is survived by his loving wife Ruth of Exeter, son Mike and daughter-in-law Kris and grandkids Matt, Nicole and Zach of Geneva, son Greg of Exeter, daughter Estelle and son-in-law Ted DeJonge and grandchildren Kevin, Kelsey, and Kaleb of Roca, daughter Jenny of Lincoln, daughter Cathy of Lincoln, daughter Liz and son-in-law Dan Kallhoff and grandson Troy Wilfrid of Exeter, twin daughters Monika of Lincoln and Mary of Exeter, Sister Mary Anne and brother-in-law Dwight Doran of Omaha, sister Frances of Lincoln, mother-in-law Esther Deterding of Exeter, uncle and aunt Leo and Dorothy Ekeler of Exeter, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other cherished relatives and friends. Willy was preceded in death by brothers, Frank Joseph and John, his mother and father, Anna C. and Frank Ekeler Jr., his nephew Frank Doran, his grandparents, and several other relatives and friends. Funeral services were conducted from St. Stephen's Church in Exeter at 10:00 am, Wednesday, May 16, 2007 with Father Stephen Cooney officiating. Serving as acolyte was Ron Kuska with Tom Hoffman serving as reader. Agnes Anderson accompanied cantor Jessica Ruhl with songs "On Eagle's Wings", "Here I Am Lord", How Great Thou Art", "On This Day O Precious Mother" and "Be Not Afraid." Casket bearers were Joe, Paul and Fred Doran, Kent Ekeler, Kent Olsen, Joe Dinneen, and Shane and Shawn Slezak. Honorary bearers were Larry Cudaback, J.J Dinneen, Sterling Dyer, Larry Ekeler, Del Jensen, Albert Kaiser, Bill Michl, Jack Nolar, Roger Neemann and Hugh Wilson. Burial with military honors by William Sullivan Exeter American Legion Post #218 was held at the Exeter Cemetery. Funeral services were in charge of Farmer Funeral Home with memorials directed to the Exeter American Legion or Exeter Fire and Rescue.

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