Wayne Melton Eckart, 84, died peacefully in his sleep at his home near Mapleton, MN April 27, 2021. Wayne was born January 12, 1937 to Leo G Eckart and Meletha (Schendel) Eckart on the family farm near New Richland, MN. Shortly after Meletha’s death in 1947, Leo moved the family into town and built a home, eventually marrying Evelyn Kauffman of St. Paul. During Wayne’s youth, the family embarked on numerous business endeavors which included renting out their farm, operating the local movie theater, and running the local “ready mix” plant - which eventually evolved into the Eckart Concrete Company. Wayne served the citizens of New Richland and the surrounding area for over 50 years, constructing Superior grain bins, steel buildings, and doing concrete work of all shapes and sizes, much of which can still be viewed and walked upon today. He attended New Richland High School where he played basketball, football, and trumpet, graduating in 1955. He then attended Mankato State Teachers College while also working for the family concrete business. On Nov. 22, 1958 he married Shirley Ann Prescher of Mapleton, MN. In 1960 he entered the United States Army, serving in W. Germany. It was there that his son Scott was born. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1963, he returned to Mankato State and completed his B.S. degree in Science. He first taught high school in Welcome, MN while residing in Fairmont, where his daughter Melissa was born. In 1970 he returned to college and completed a one-year Master of Science program at the University of North Dakota.
In 1972 he accepted a teaching position at Waldorf Pemberton High School in Waldorf, MN where he taught Science, German and Mathematics for over 20 years. In 1984 he married Ann McElroy of Mankato, MN. During their lengthy marriage they enjoyed gardening, traveling, and rescuing many beloved animals. After his retirement from WPHS, he taught at the Sober School in Freeborn MN, where he enjoyed watching young people get their lives back on track. He also taught an Advanced Mathematics course for high school students at Mankato State University, where they were among the first school programs to utilize remote classroom learning via satellite. In later years Wayne enjoyed substitute teaching at area schools, fishing, tinkering on all things mechanical, and cheering for all Minnesota sports teams. (We regret he never saw the Vikings win a Super Bowl). He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Evelyn, brothers Ronald and Carlyle, his dear brother-in-law Jerry “Shorty” Meyer, and his second wife Ann. He is survived by his first wife Shirley of Mankato, son Scott of St. Louis Park, daughter Melissa (Everett) Dawson of Yuma AZ, sister Marilyn Meyer and brother Norman (Sharon) Eckart of New Richland, sister-in-law Mary Ann Eckart of Northfield, many nieces and nephews, and the apples of his eye - granddaughters Amanda Eckart of Adelaide, South Australia and Julia Eckart of Minneapolis, MN. After cremation, his final resting places will be St. Peter Cemetery near New Richland, Leech Lake, and numerous area wildlife refuges. God bless you always Wayne, we will sure miss you.