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ONTONAGON -- William "Bill" Frank Eckloff of Ontonagon, passed away on September 8, 2026 at UPHS Marquette.
Bill was born on February 24,1934 in Copper City, Michigan, a son of the late John and Evelyn "Martin" Eckloff. He attended school at Calumet and later graduated from White Pine.
On July 24, 1953 he and the love of his life Jean Stubenrauch eloped in Mississippi.
Bill's first job was as a dishwasher at age 14 in Colorado. Locally, he was a logger and worked at the copper country dairy delivering milk, and sailed Ore Boats on the great lakes as a wheelman. During his married life he worked at Ford Motor Company in Detroit and the Kellogg Company in California, until landing in White Pine where he worked in the Copper Mines until he retired in 1994. He was also a mechanic at White Pine Copper Mine, and a volunteer firefighter. He was proud to have designed and built two homes: one in White Pine and one on the shores of Lake Superior. Bill was a hard, devoted and creative worker. There was never a problem that he couldn't solve.
He is preceded in death by his siblings Pat (Brad) Sager, Marylou (Fred) Mattila, Robert (Florence) Eckloff, Donald (Julie) (Etta) Eckloff, Dolores (Herb) Bishop, Barbara (Mike) Kaifesh, and Clarence (Mary) (Betty) Eckloff; brothers-in-law George Cass, Jessie Holbrook, Robert Laumann, and Frank "Bunny" (Linda) Stubenrauch; sister-in-law Roberta Niemi; one great grandson Bryce Kennedy; father-in-law Frank Stubenrauch; and Oiva and Helen Neimi.
He is survived by his wife of 73 years Jean; children Randy "Cricket" Eckloff of Ahmeek, Connie (Jim Rabideaux) of Iron Range, MN, and Bruce and Peggy Eckloff of Rochester, MN; grandchildren Heidi (Dave), Jody, Billiejo, Steven, Josh (Mikayla), Justin, Daniel (Jen), Kari (Ryan), Dustin (Tanya), Heather, and Lyndsey (Josh); 18 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; three sisters, Dorothy Cass of New Hampshire, Carol Holbrook of WI, and Joyce Laumann of WI; and brother-in-law Lee Gustafson (Chris), as well as many nieces and nephews.
A service for Bill will be held at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet, Michigan at noon on Monday, September 14, 2026 with Pastor Jared Howard officiating. There will be a two-hour visitation prior to the service from 10:00 a.m.-.noon at the funeral home. Bill will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery in Ahmeek, Michigan following the service.
Erickson-Crowley-Peterson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences for the family can be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com