HAMPDEN – Elisabeth P. Eckmann, wife of Gary L. Eckmann, passed away peacefully April 25, 2011, at her home after several years of poor health. She was born Dec. 20, 1934, in Gross Laasch, Germany, to Heinrich and Elsa (Reddohl) Pohl.
Elisabeth was proud of her heritage and spoke often of her loving and very close relationship with her father. Her stories and recounts of living in Germany and growing up through World War II were riveting and cherished by family and friends. As World War II ended and Elisabeth was in her teens, she escaped from the Russians who took over East Germany. She married her first husband, who was a U.S. soldier, and he brought her to the U.S. in 1954. She taught herself English and adapted to the culture of being in a new country with the aid of her tremendous strong will and love for her children. In 1967 she and her children met her current husband, Gary; they all fell in love and married Dec. 22, 1971, later adding two more children to their fun family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and cherished all her moments with them, especially in the final years of her life. She was generous, proud, classy and stylish who carried herself always with grace. A real tigeress, she was selfless when it came to nurturing her children. Elisabeth was an excellent cook and always at the center of holiday meals. She enjoyed nature, flower gardening, eating out and in her later years studied and converted to Judaism and became a U.S. citizen. After the Berlin Wall came down, she and Gary enjoyed several trips to her hometown, where she was able to visit her family’s graves. As her hometown was so dear to Elisabeth, she purchased and donated a bell to the church in the town of Gross Laasch, as it had been taken for the metal to be used toward the war efforts. Elisabeth will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Friends and associates remember her as a very nice lady. Elisabeth supported and worked in the family business in the McDonald’s restaurants in Bangor and Brewer. She made friends with many customers, but had a special fondness for the many American veterans she would join for coffee each morning at one of the restaurants.
Elisabeth is survived by her loving husband of 39 years, Gary L. Eckmann of Hampden; and seven children: daughter, Gala Argent and her children, Nicky and Miles Schuster, son, Mark Fliegelman and wife, Lynn, their children, Diana Zavala, Daniel Fliegelman, Channa Manson, Netsanet Fliegelman, Kibrom Fliegelman and Seba Fliegelman, son, George Fliegelman III and wife, Marion, and his children, George IV and Leslie Fliegelman, son, D. Heinrich Fliegelman and wife, Sandy, and daughter, Carlee Fliegeman, daughter, Patricia Hurst and husband, James, and her children, Cassandra Hurst and Gary-Michiel Hurst, son, Gary M. Eckmann and wife, Kristi, and children, Logan Eckmann, Frankie Eckmann and Sophie Eckmann, daughter, Kristen Eckmann and husband, Ben Rancourt, and children, Ocean Rancourt and Poet Rancourt; a sister, Anne Margaret Dennis of Denton, Texas; a great-grandchild, Noah Hurst; and a niece, Marian Allen. Elisabeth was predeceased by her parents; a granddaughter, Heather Fliegelman; and one great-grandson, Jonah Fliegelman. The family thanks all those that cared for and assisted Elisabeth, especially the team at Eastern Maine Medical Center/Boyd Dialysis Center, Bangor.
Family and friends may visit 3-7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden, where funeral services for family and closest friends will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions in Elisabeth’s honor may be made to Maine Veterans Home veteran’s program and activity fund, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401. Messages of condolences and memories may be shared through
www.hampdengilpatrick.com.