In Memory of

Jim

Eckhoff

Obituary for Jim Eckhoff

WARREN – James R. Eckhoff, 73, went home to be with the Lord, following an extended illness, Monday, September 10, 2018 at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport. His loving wife was at his side.

Born in Sweet Springs, Missouri in 1945, Jim was the son of Herbert and Hildegard Burfeind Eckhoff.

Following high school, Jim married Barbara Jenkins in Sweet Springs. Together they had two children, Vicki and Kevin. For many years Jim worked at the Kansas City Chevrolet Plant and later drove a dairy tanker truck as well as working in the logging industry. Jim relocated to Maine 1975.

Later he met and married Irene Lydecker. Blending their existing families, they later welcomed one more daughter into their home.

For over 25 years, Jim worked for Maritime Energy driving a fuel oil tanker truck as well as serving as their dispatcher. Jim loved working for Maritime. The comradery and friendships he formed there were something he cherished. After he retired, Jim couldn’t stay away. He returned to work in the company’s convenience stores. At one point he estimated he made more than 10,000 trips to and from Portland in his tanker truck.

Jim loved being outdoors. Fishing, taking his boat out on the water, and mowing the lawn with his riding mower were some of his favorite pastimes. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren, taking them all for rides on the mower. He never missed an opportunity to tell them how proud he was of their accomplishments or brag about them to other people.

Jim had a heart for helping others. He always put others above himself. Over the years he has formed many special friendships, especially with Tom Wade who visited each week for a cup of coffee; Candi Johnson whom he thought of as a daughter; John Ware and Susan Ware Page who were so supportive and great to work for; as well as Jesse Kurr who took over Jim’s transport route.

Jim had a simple nature about him, and was a humble, non-materialistic person. He lived his life well, knowing the truly important things in life were not things at all. He will be sadly missed by all of his family and friends who loved him.

Predeceased by his parents; his son Kevin D. Eckhoff in 1984; and a grandson Christian Harrison; Jim is survived by his wife, Irene of Warren; his daughters, Vicki Siegel and her husband Keith of Union, Melinda Butterfield and her husband William, III of Waldoboro, Pamela Ostbye of Nobleboro; a son Stephen Manter and his wife Stacey of Lubbock, TX; eleven grandchildren, Rachel Siegel, Jacob Siegel, Kayla Butterfield, James Butterfield, Zachary Butterfield, Lydia Butterfield, Annalina Ostbye, Ella Ostbye, Joshua Manter, Jamayka Manter, Rutger Harrison; his siblings, Wendall Eckhoff and his wife Joyce, Sharon Knight and her husband John all of Sweet Springs, Missouri; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., Friday, September 14, 2018 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a celebration of his life will be held at 6:00 p.m. Private interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place MSC 512, Memphis, TN 38105.