Services will be held August 18 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson for Anna Josephine Eckhardt, 104, of Jefferson, formerly of Davenport.
Interment will be the following day at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery in Davenport. Memorials in honor of Anna may be directed to First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson, the Jefferson public library, or Greene County Medical Center.
Anna Josephine Eckhardt, 104, of Jefferson passed away peacefully on August 13, 2023. She was born in Davenport on October 2, 1918, to Jacob and Rosa Matysek. Her parents immigrated from Czechoslovia before their marriage in January 1918. Anna grew up as an only child.
Anna graduated from Davenport High School in 1936 then continued her education at Brown Business School in Davenport. Following graduation, Anna worked for an insurance Adjuster for a short period of time. Then she worked in the bookkeeping department of a men’s clothing store.
Anna was involved with the East Davenport Turner Society. She was a very skilled athlete and received many awards. Her favorite activities were on the parallel bars, the horse, and the rope. This is where she met the love of her life, Jacob Edward Eckhardt. They were married on December 4, 1940, and became parents of two beautiful girls, Annette and Helen Marie.
Anna was a wonderful stay-at-home mother who made fudge for Girl Scout fundraising activities, chaperoned various field trips, taught Sunday School, and always had an evening meal ready for the family. In her spare time, she loved to read, quilt, sew, crochet, embroider, and socialize with friends. Even near the end of her life, she crocheted potholders, then gave them to nurses and hospital staff at the Greene County Medical Center Extended Care.
Anna and Jacob loved to travel during their 72 years of marriage. The only state they did not visit was Hawaii because Anna was afraid to fly over a big body of water. Alaska was her favorite place to explore, and she always said she would never go back to California. Traveling in their motor home made for lots of fun adventures.
Anna is survived by grandchildren: Mark Sawhill (Mavis), Jefferson, Andrew Sawhill (Denise) Winterset, John Jeffery (Amanda) Cumming, GA, and Chrissy Kennedy (Finian) Roswell; great-grandchildren Lillian Sawhill, John Michael Sawhill, Katlynn Sawhill, Megan Sawhill, Cameron Jeffery, Regan Jeffery, Hannah Kennedy and Leah Kennedy; Son-in-law Harley Jeffery (Tamra), and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jacob; daughters Helen Marie Jeffery and Annette Sawhill; son-in-law John Sawhill; and grandson James Sawhill.
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson, 515-386-2171.
