Paul E. (Ed) Eckman

Paul E. (Ed) Eckman, 73, of Culdesac, died Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Prestige Rehabilitation and Care Center in Lewiston.

Ed was born Oct. 12, 1939, in Oregon County, Mo.

On April 15, 1958, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was an in-flight refueling boom operator. After four years of service, he was honorably discharged.

After his military service, he worked for ONC as a long-haul truck driver. He was the recipient of the prestigious 750,000 Mile Award with no accidents.

After numerous heart attacks, with his first being at the age of 23, he was one of four participants in the Vineberg procedure. This experimental surgery is documented in a medical journal. He is the only survivor of this procedure.

After his surgery, Ed attended Mt. Hood Community College from 1976 to 1977.

On April 7, 1978, in Coeur d'Alene, he married his beloved, Mae Eckman. During their 34-year marriage, they lived and traveled to many places. Ed was an active outdoorsman with a love for riding motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, hunting and camping. He had a great love of animals.

Ed served on the Culdesac City Council and also did a term as the mayor for Culdesac.

Ed lived his life with great dignity and had a strong respect for the gift that life was for him. He loved everyone and was devoted to his family and friends. To know him was to have an immediate and lifelong friend. He always had an open lap for all of his grandchildren and could be counted on for a motorcycle ride.

In the end, our lives are too short, for it's not forever. Our family is grateful for the time we got with him, for it was more than we had any right to hope for. We are thankful for his love and never-ending support and belief in all of us.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Edward Eckman Sr. and Louise Hensley Mahns, and also by siblings Terrance Eckman and Karl Mahns. He is survived by his wife, Mae Eckman; siblings Garth (Pat) Eckman, Fred (Pauline) Eckman and Steven Eckman; son Paul Ed (Sarah) Eckman III; and daughters Debi (Ben) Wray, Arnella SpottedElk; numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and forever friends Jim Bloodsworth and Alta Perry.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Culdesac Community Center. A celebration lunch will be served following the service.

In honor of Paul E. (Ed) Eckman, donations can be made to St. Labre Mission in Ashland, Mont., as he actively supported it for many years.