Darlene Ecker 03/08/2021

Darlene Marie Ecker, age 85, of Hudson, WI, passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a short and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer at Red Cedar Canyon in Hudson. Darlene was born the eldest child of Ervin and Loretta (Ledebuhr) Zielkie on January 9th, 1936 in Red Wing, MN. She grew up in the Bay City area on the family farm. She graduated valedictorian from Ellsworth High School in 1953. She went on to attend college at The University of Wisconsin River Falls until meeting Allen Ecker at a dance in Ellsworth. Darlene and Allen were united in marriage on June 25, 1955, at the Hartland Methodist Church in Bay City, WI. She was a highly respected bookkeeper at various places throughout her life including, 3M, Control Data, Hudson School District, Viking Electronics and Tower Asphalt. She had a deep faith and was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church. She enjoyed playing card games including bridge and Euchre. She loved doing her crossword puzzles from the daily newspapers. She loved displaying family pictures throughout her home and updating them constantly with new pictures in her numerous photo collages. She and Allen traveled to all 50 states along with many countries around the world. She was an avid Green Bay Packer fan. Darlene had a beautiful smile, an infectious laugh, upbeat personality, a zest for life and the biggest heart. Darlene never met a stranger and was affectionately known as the “Energizer Bunny”. She dearly loved spending time with family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Allen; parents, Ervin and Loretta Zielkie; sister, Doris (Norman) Sorensen; and brother, Raymond Zielkie. Darlene is survived by her children, Gary (Nga) Ecker of Brooklyn Park, MN, Stephen (Desta) Ecker of Faribault, MN, Terri (Larry) Sande of Hudson, WI and Cheryl (Geoff) Moore of Highlands Ranch, CO; grandchildren, Dane (Ashley) Ecker, Stacy (Michael) Mehrkens, Stephanie (Jake) Ecker, Trevor (Caryn) Sande, Rachel (Nicholas) Dewey and Olivia Moore; great-grandchildren, Caiden, Jackson, Warren and Rosalind Ecker, Avery, Ian and Luke Mehrkens, River and Winston Dewey, and Nathan, Jerry and Tina; sister, Delores (Bill) Mathis; sisters-in-law, Carol Bennett and Leona Kinney; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. A public visitation was held on Friday, March 26, 2021 from 5-8 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services 728 S Knowles Avenue, New Richmond, WI 54017. A private family Memorial Service was held on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 11:00 am at Bethel Lutheran Church Highlands Campus 504 Frontage Road, Hudson, WI 54016.   Internment was in the Willow River Cemetery in Hudson, WI.  Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch Darlene’s recorded memorial service