Carl W. Eckblom

Carl W. Eckblom, 71, of Manchester, beloved husband of 49 years to Linda (Juengst) Eckblom, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 19, 2017 of cancer at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. Carl was born in Hartford on September 25, 1945 to the late Oscar & Dorothy (Johnson) Eckblom. He attended Conard High School in West Hartford and graduated with the Class of 1963. Carl was an Eagle Scout and spent a summer working at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Carl earned his Bachelor's Degree at Upsala College in New Jersey where he met the love of his life, Linda, and later earned his Master's Degree in Business Administration from Western New England College. After college, he and Linda got married in a whirlwind on December 23, 1967 while Carl was on a short holiday leave from the Army. Carl served in Vietnam after completing Officer Candidate School with the Infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia. During the war Carl was assigned to the Signal Corps. He was honorably discharged having earned the rank of 1st Lieutenant and receiving the Bronze Star Medal. Carl returned and worked for The Hartford. In 1979 he went to work for his uncle Filmore Johnson at Standard Washer & Mat in Manchester where he remained employed for over 30 years, becoming the owner and C.E.O. in 1985. He was a longtime member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Manchester. Carl was a handyman and a woodworker, and had spent many of his years building and fixing things for his home and children. Carl always enjoyed family vacations and camping at Camp Calumet in New Hampshire, as well as traveling to National Parks. He had wonderful memories of his cross-country trip with Linda in his Uncle Bill's VW camper van after returning from Vietnam. Over the years Carl went on three trips to Europe with Linda, and he enjoyed spending his summers at the cottage at Old Kelsey Point in Westbrook with friends and family. Most of all he cherished spending time with his beloved grandchildren.
In addition to his wife Linda, Carl leaves behind two sons; Brian Eckblom and his wife Karen and their two children Hayden and Eric all of Tolland, Gregory Eckblom and his wife Stacey Redner of Hartford, his daughter; Elizabeth "Liza" Ringuette and her husband James and their three children Maryanne, Samuel and Charles all of Colchester, two sisters; Christine Dahl and her husband Arthur of NY, and Nancy Hendrickson and her husband Gust of California. Carl also leaves a sister-in-law Eleanor Blankenburg and her husband William of South Windsor, two brothers-in-law Fred Juengst and his wife Dorothy of Wisconsin and James Juengst and his wife Barbara of Madison, CT, several nieces and nephews as well as many loyal, faithful and wonderful friends. In addition to his parents, Carl was predeceased by Edwin Gustavson who was like a second father, and his brother-in-law Henry Juengst and his wife Christa. The Eckblom family would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses and staff at the John DeQuattro Cancer Center at Manchester Memorial Hospital as well as those at Connecticut Hospice in Branford for their wonderful care and compassion. Calling hours will be held Sunday, June 25, 2017 from 2-6 PM at Watkins Funeral Home, 142 E. Center St., Manchester. A funeral service will be held Monday, June 26th at 10 AM at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 60 Church St., Manchester. Burial with military honors will be Monday at 1:30 PM in West Lane Cemetery, High St., Kensington CT. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Emanuel Lutheran Church, 60 Church St, Manchester CT 06040 or Camp Calumet, PO Box 236, West Ossipee, NH 03890, www.calumet.org/give . To leave an online condolence, please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com



Visitation DetailsSunday, June 25th, 2017 2:00pm - 6:00pm, Watkins Funeral Home
Service DetailsMonday, June 26th, 2017 10:00am, Emanuel Lutheran Church
Interment DetailsWest Lane Cemetery