Joan Dolores Eckle

She was born in Detroit on June 12, 1933, to her parents Ray & Bernice Armstrong. After graduation from Cooley High School, she attended Wayne State College in downtown Detroit where she earned a BS in Education and then taught in elementary grades at several schools. She was married to John Eckle (nickname Jack) in August of 1955, who was working on receiving a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan. They had met through church relationships and became more seriously interested in each other at the Detroit Baptist Camp where they were both employed in kitchen work during the summertime. Just prior to John receiving his engineering degree from the UM Joan gave birth to twins, John & Jamie. After graduation John was employed by The Boeing Company and the family moved to Washington State. Joan gave birth to Julie, and shortly thereafter, the family moved to Huntsville, AL. John’s deep involvement in the US Space Program led John & Joan to be relocated many times over the years to Huntsville, AL (twice), Slidell, LA, Merritt Island, FL, and Washington (three times). As John approached retirement they would finally settle down in Maple Valley, WA where they were living when Joan passed away.

One of Joan’s many passions over the years was leading women’s Bible studies. She had always been a student of the Bible and would begin every day by reading the Bible and praying. Joan was also a teacher at heart. Not only teaching her own children about the Lord and life as they grew up, she was also a mentor and teacher to many young women in the youth group where the family attended church at Westminster Chapel in Bellevue. Another passion of Joan’s included sewing, and for many years she made absolutely amazing creations out of fabric. She also spent time caring for her mother who she and John relocated from Detroit to live near them when they lived in Slidell, LA and Bellevue, WA. Eventually, Joan and John also provided accommodations for her mother to live with them in Maple Valley. In her later years, Joan was an avid reader, and could read books faster than anyone around. She loved her family, her friends, and her Heavenly Father.

Joan is survived by her children: Jamie Bagge and her husband, John of Bellevue, WA; John Eckle Jr and his wife, Lisa of Reno, NV ; and Julie Stachowiak of Renton, WA. She leaves behind her grandchildren: Jaffrey Koch (and husband, Dan), Jodi Reed (and husband Cameron), Aubrey Boggs (and husband Drew), Amanda Eckle, and Cady Eckle, and two great-grandsons: Soren Koch and Auden Boggs. She is also survived by her brother, Jack Armstrong, who lives in Duluth, MN. She also leaves many other family members and dear friends, who will deeply miss her.