Kermit became our friend through his wife Shirley.  Shirley and I worked together at Arapahoe High School and she and Kermit have become lifelong friends to me and to my late husband Bob.  I don't believe I have ever known a kinder man and one who was so strong in his beliefs.  He loved Shirley dearly and their marriage was one I tried to emulate.  He was so proud of his children, Kermit and Kaye, and always talked enthusiastically about their recent accomplishments.  I will miss him and his steadfast presence in this life.


Dear Shirley and family. (grads of LBI/LCBM),  

We are glad our paths crossed so many years ago.  I was SO good to see you at LCBM/LBI reunions.  Thanks for coming to them.  We have great memories of you both.

God bless you and your family in the days ahead.

Stewart Black ('63) and Bevery (nee Charette '53)

Dear KaeAnn and Kerm,  We do not grieve as those with no hope, but rejoice in God's eternal love and salvation.  Little did we realize when we are young how quickly time flies, but here we are, remembering you as little  children, and your Dad as our teacher at LCBM, and your Mom as our mentor.  My New Testament classes with Dr. Ecklebarger have guided me through over 50 years of my own learning and sharing with others.  My friendship with Kermit and Shirley will always be a precious memory.  Blessings, Christine and Ron Unruh

To Shirley and children:  Kermit was a wonderful brother and I respected and loved him greatly.  My instant memory was the faculty retreat when some of us faculty went climbing a mountain with Bob Alden.  Bob left all of us far behind and when we were trying to get down some of us fell, including Kermit and me, rolling over and over on the rocks.  He got hurt worse than I did, however.  I already miss him greatly.  We grieve not as those who have no hope.   Sincerest condolences.  Jim Means

Shirley, Kermit Jr., and Kay,
I met Kermit when I joined the Denver Seminary faculty in the Fall of 1978. He and Don Burdick warmly welcomed me as a colleague into the New Testament Department. From that first semester until his retirement, I found Kermit to be an enthusiastic and relentlessly positive person—about his classes and colleagues, about the Seminary, about preaching and teaching in the churches, about his marriage partner, about his children “young Kerm” and Kay, and about his faith in Christ. He exuded the joy of the Lord and was a great encouragement to all who knew him. Generations of students will recall his course in biblical interpretation, affectionately called “kermeneutics”! I felt honored when it fell to me to carry on his legacy in teaching hermeneutics after he retired. After his official retirement, Kermit agreed to teach online courses for several years: he loved teaching. He was also an effective administrator. He oversaw the D.Min. program and eventually was appointed Dean of the Faculty by President Ed Hayes. As Dean, he appointed me to be the Associate Academic Dean, so I got to work closely with Kermit on various projects and initiatives. I came to admire his oversight of the Seminary’s affairs and equally his pastoral concern for students. His steadfast faith in the Seminary’s mission and, more importantly, in his Lord, was apparent in all he did. “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 
And, thanks to you Shirley, for your warm hospitality. Phyllis and I were welcomed into your home on numerous occasions, often to celebrate our work together in the New Testament Department. You were truly a valued partner in Kerm's ministry--it was a joint effort for which we all praise God.

Shirley, we are so saddened by Kerm's passing.  He will be so missed. He was my professor, my mentor, my inspiration. I loved teaching 'his' class and was so thankful for his foundation. Dave and I ate with you, cheered the Broncos with you, loved the Rockies with you and remembered the Christmas village with you. So many wonderful memories. We are sending you tons of love!! Judy Diehl 💓💓

Shirley and family,

I had the pleasure of meeting Kermit (and Shirley) almost 10 years ago when I started working at Denver Seminary. Whether it was Arizona, Washington or in Colorado, Kermit's zeal to love on people wherever you guys were was evident. I was always so encouraged walking away or wrapping up a phone call with Kermit and he always reminded me the importance of our advancement work. I wish I got to experience the DU hockey games with you both and I loved hearing those stories. May God's peace be with you all deeply in this season.

I served with him as NT colleague from the first year I was hired.  Then he was my dean.  Then he taught ten years of online courses for us in retirement.  When I came in 1986, many students said he was their favorite professor.  The required course he taught to almost all students was renamed in his honor--Kermeneutics.  I never once heard him get upset with colleagues in public, even when many might have lashed out because of the ways he was at times treated unfairly.  He took 20 years, while teaching full-time and surviving the death of his first doctoral supervisor, to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago.  His retirement celebration at the turn of the millennium featured David Ward's hilarious impersonations of him (and of many of us) on a large-screen video feed.  He regularly preached and taught in local churches even leading our longtime board member and chair, Bill Ward, to the Lord in his younger days.  He loved the Rockies and about once a year sold us four seats to a game near the first-base dugout (which he in turn had bought from Bill). His wife, Shirley, loved to be involved in everything related to seminary people--esp. faculty and students' wives.  He named his son Kermit, Jr., just before the Muppets became famous; how could he know?  (His daughter, Kay, fared better with names.)  Denver Seminary learned this morning that he died yesterday of an apparent heart attack.  I believe he would have been 85 this year.  Enjoy your heavenly reward, Kermit Ecklebarger.  You will always be one of my heroes and cherished friends!  If I live as long as you did, I'll see you in about 20 years.  Save me a box seat!

Dear Shirley and family,
Kermit was my professor and role model in many ways. As a student at Denver Seminary in the early 1980s, I not only took his class in hermeneutics but I served as his grader for a year. I learned not only the science of Bible interpretation but also, by observing him, the spirit of Bible interpretation.  I know you miss him and grieve his loss. I pray that as the days go by you will also know the Spirit of all Comfort.
--Marshall Shelley


Dear Shirley and Family:

Kermit was on the committee that hired me as a young philosopher to work at Denver Seminary in 1993.  He was welcoming and kind. You both opened your home to my wife Rebecca (d. 2018) and her parents in the summer of 1993 when they were looking for a home for us. I was in Russia at the time. That was kind of you.

Kermit was an enthusiastic and energetic member of Denver Seminary and served for many years as Dean, not an easy job during those days especially. I appreciate that. He followed Christ well. I am so sorry for your loss, which is, though, only temporary if we are followers of Christ, as was Kermit.

Sincerely,
Douglas Groothuis

1990's vintage faculty photo of Kermit at Denver Seminary

Shirley and family,

Just heard of Kermit's graduation into the presence of the Lord. Kerm was the Dean who hired me back in 1999. He and you, Shirley, became not only colleagues, but also dear friends. Thanks for sharing him with us and the Denver Seminary community for all those years. We are better people and a more effective Kingdom institution because of his time in our midst.

Sandy and I are praying for you all during this bittersweet time of celebrating Kerm's life in the midst of beginning your journey of grieving his loss in your lives.

Brad & Sandy Widstrom

Shirley and family
It is with great sadness Sara and I received the news of Kermit’s passing.  But this sadness is immediately tempered by the extremely fond memories we cherish of spending time with you and Kermit during our time at Denver Sem.  The hockey games at DU, the dinners at Black-eyed Pea (spilled tea) or your zoo visit to Kansas City, remain cherished memories for us.  We are eternally grateful for the kindness and caring you and Kermit poured into our lives as a young married couple.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.  
Dennis & Sara Stuart
Kansas City, MO


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Kermit Allen Ecklebarger

10 décembre 1935 – 15 mai 2020

Sunset Hills Memorial Park & Funeral Home

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