Obituary for Gary Lynn Eichelberger
Gary Lynn Eichelberger, age 63, of Sparta, went home to be with his precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on March 31, 2022, a time unexpected for us but an appointment chosen by God.
His life will be celebrated on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home from 11 am to 1 pm with a remembrance service following visitation. Burial will follow at Lower Board Valley Cemetery.
Gary was born in Broken Bow, NE to Francis “Dean” Eichelberger and Millie Beckler on 10/20/1958 and had 3 siblings, Cathy, Connie, and Amy. His family chose to adventure out away from relatives and moved to the Mansfield, Missouri area when he was around 9 years old. It was at this age that Gary accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at a local church in the area. He delivered the GRIT paper as a young boy and worked as a janitor at the local high school after school. While attending high school Gary worked after school at the local shoe factory and worked to purchase his first car, a 1964 Ford Mustang. Gary was always a hard worker and learned many things from his dad, Dean, who operated The Ozark Handle Company and also painting and insulation companies.
As an adult, Gary traveled to California and learned the trade of Decorative Concrete. He moved back to Missouri and opened up his own decorative concrete company in 1987 and worked in this business until his death and his son, Nathan, carries on the business. He liked to use his sawmill to do woodworking and learned to use many tools and developed many skills, one of which was knifemaking. He enjoyed making knives, forging, and making things in general. He was a talented artist and could draw out knife patterns and plans for building. Gary liked to build rustic cabins and enjoyed cabin building with his family. There are several of the Eichelberger cabins today. He enjoyed gardening and spent many hours in the greenhouse propagating plants. He loved to take his family to Nebraska and further west camping and fishing and kayaking down the Dismal River. A highlight of his was hunting and camping in the Northwest Territory with his friend Ben Smith. Gary loved to travel and went on many trips across the United States on his motorcycle and camping and hiking along the way, especially in Alaska with DuWayne and Cardwell, and has always had an adventurous spirit that has passed onto his 4 children.
Gary’s most important endeavor, however, is how he guided his family to trust in Jesus Christ by faith, to believe the Bible, the Word of God, and to follow in the Way, The Truth and the Life. It was this faith that was the foundation of his family. He and his wife, Lisa, started their life together on and built on that foundation and it continues on with the next generation.
He is preceded in death by his parents Dean and Millie Eichelberger and a sister, Amy.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa, children Nathan Eichelberger, Jenna and Chris Simpson. Ashley Eichelberger and Christian Eichelberger. Grandchildren: Mackenzie, Adam, Luke, Joe, Beretta, Arayna, Micah, Kaylin, Jax, William (Lux) and Zosia (Luna). Two Sisters Cathy and her husband Phil and Connie and husband Larry Lawson and many nieces and nephews.
He leaves behind many beloved friends and family.
We wish to extend love and gratitude to those who have prayed for and given to our family during this time. It was appreciated more than you know and we felt the prayers during this critical time. Thank you with all our hearts.
Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com
His life will be celebrated on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home from 11 am to 1 pm with a remembrance service following visitation. Burial will follow at Lower Board Valley Cemetery.
Gary was born in Broken Bow, NE to Francis “Dean” Eichelberger and Millie Beckler on 10/20/1958 and had 3 siblings, Cathy, Connie, and Amy. His family chose to adventure out away from relatives and moved to the Mansfield, Missouri area when he was around 9 years old. It was at this age that Gary accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at a local church in the area. He delivered the GRIT paper as a young boy and worked as a janitor at the local high school after school. While attending high school Gary worked after school at the local shoe factory and worked to purchase his first car, a 1964 Ford Mustang. Gary was always a hard worker and learned many things from his dad, Dean, who operated The Ozark Handle Company and also painting and insulation companies.
As an adult, Gary traveled to California and learned the trade of Decorative Concrete. He moved back to Missouri and opened up his own decorative concrete company in 1987 and worked in this business until his death and his son, Nathan, carries on the business. He liked to use his sawmill to do woodworking and learned to use many tools and developed many skills, one of which was knifemaking. He enjoyed making knives, forging, and making things in general. He was a talented artist and could draw out knife patterns and plans for building. Gary liked to build rustic cabins and enjoyed cabin building with his family. There are several of the Eichelberger cabins today. He enjoyed gardening and spent many hours in the greenhouse propagating plants. He loved to take his family to Nebraska and further west camping and fishing and kayaking down the Dismal River. A highlight of his was hunting and camping in the Northwest Territory with his friend Ben Smith. Gary loved to travel and went on many trips across the United States on his motorcycle and camping and hiking along the way, especially in Alaska with DuWayne and Cardwell, and has always had an adventurous spirit that has passed onto his 4 children.
Gary’s most important endeavor, however, is how he guided his family to trust in Jesus Christ by faith, to believe the Bible, the Word of God, and to follow in the Way, The Truth and the Life. It was this faith that was the foundation of his family. He and his wife, Lisa, started their life together on and built on that foundation and it continues on with the next generation.
He is preceded in death by his parents Dean and Millie Eichelberger and a sister, Amy.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa, children Nathan Eichelberger, Jenna and Chris Simpson. Ashley Eichelberger and Christian Eichelberger. Grandchildren: Mackenzie, Adam, Luke, Joe, Beretta, Arayna, Micah, Kaylin, Jax, William (Lux) and Zosia (Luna). Two Sisters Cathy and her husband Phil and Connie and husband Larry Lawson and many nieces and nephews.
He leaves behind many beloved friends and family.
We wish to extend love and gratitude to those who have prayed for and given to our family during this time. It was appreciated more than you know and we felt the prayers during this critical time. Thank you with all our hearts.
Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com