Walter Ekle

Walter Leonard Ekle, 86, of Hamilton, Illinois, died Wednesday, August 26, 2009, at his home. Mr Ekle was born January 16, 1923 on a farm ten miles north of Keokuk, Jackson Township, Lee County, Iowa, the son of Walter H. and Marie Schmitt Ekle. He started studying violin at the age of five. On entering High School he changed to viola in order to form a quartet and studied with Walter Rediger of St. Louis. As a Keokuk, Iowa, high school senior, he played the Sitte Concerto, Viola Solo and won the only number one rating in the National Contest held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On graduation from Keokuk High School, he moved to St. Louis to continue his musical career studying with Walter Rediger, and was appointed to the National Youth and the St. Louis Philharmonic Symphonies and performed two concerts a week. He worked for Bell Telephone for financial support. In 1942, because of World War II, he enlisted in the United States Army Signal Corps. He was stationed in Greeley, Colorado. Taking his viola along, he also played in the Greeley Symphony. He was then stationed in Craig, Colorado, for Signal Corps training as a radio operator. While there he met Dorothy Thomas a...[more]

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they were married on June 17, 1944. They had three children, Ernie, Lewis, and Kathy. He completed two years at State Teacher's College as a cadet in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He trained at Batista Field, Cuba, as a B-29 Bomber Crew. After the war, he and his family moved back to the farm in Iowa. He was a licensed electrician, musician, and photographer. He retired as an electrician from Trellex in 1988. He was a charter member of the Quincy Symphony, playing principal viola, also with the Southeast Iowa, Ottumwa, and Oskaloosa Symphonies, also as principal Viola. He was a member of the United Church of Christ in Keokuk and First Presbyterian Church in Ottumwa, Iowa, and was a member of Keokuk Lodge #29 AF & AM and Keokuk Camera Club. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Ekle; a daughter, Kathy (Scott) Kirby of Hamilton, Illinois; two sisters, Rosie Miller of Memphis, Missouri and Janet Ihrig of Camp Point, Illinois; brother, Robert (Marilyn) Ekle of Farmington, Iowa; ten grandchildren, Lt. Col. Steven (Nicci) James of Little Rock, Arkansas, Brandon (Shellie) James of Muskegon, Michigan, Lisa Spees of Clermont, Florida, Jenna (Chad) Happs of Keokuk, Matt Spees of Warsaw, Illinois, Stephanie (Jeff) Lentfer, Angela Ekle, Dr. Jade Ekle, all of Anchorage, Alaska, Michelle (Darryl) Revenew of Canton, Georgia and Chief Lewis Jr. (Amber) Ekle of Hillsboro, New Hampshire; seventeen great grandchildren; and three step grandchildren, Matt, Miranda and Jessica Kirby. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Leroy Ekle; and two sons, Ernie & Lewis Ekle. Funeral services were Saturday, August 29, 2009, at DeJong's Funeral Home in Keokuk with Rev. John Tyler officiating. Memorials may be made to the Quincy Symphony Orchestra.