Relay For Life

Friends and Family,

I am honored to be volunteering and participating this year with Duke’s Relay For Life event. I am walking in memory of my father, Arthur Dean Eckerberg, who lost his battle with cancer in December. While he was receiving treatment at Duke, we benefited from the numerous programs for Cancer patients and their families. Click here to visit my personal page and consider donating to the walk.

Can you believe that more than 1.3 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States this year? Those are staggering statistics, but there is hope. Each of us can do something to save lives and help those already fighting this disease. That's why I've decided to take action against cancer by supporting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life® event in my community.Relay For Life is an overnight event that brings our community together to help support the American Cancer Society and its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. The Society works hard every day to prevent cancer and save lives by supporting groundbreaking research, affecting public policies that protect us from cancer, and educating people on how to prevent or detect cancer early. The Society helps people with cancer right here in our own community, and our efforts at Relay For Life can help the American Cancer Society to keep working toward a cancer-free future.

I want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by teaming up with us for this year's Relay. Please click on the link below for more information, including details on the inspirational Survivors' Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. We hope to see you there! If you can't join us, will you please visit the site and make a donation to support our efforts? Either way, you will make a real difference in the lives of people facing cancer and in the lives of the people who love them. Thank you!

Happy Holidays

Katie, Doug & Willie

Aaron, Madison, Taylor & Niki

We would like to take this moment to wish you all a very Happy Holiday. As this is our first Christmas without dad, we realize that for the past 9 months - many of you have welcomed us into your own family. Whether you were a friend of Dads, or Aaron's, or mine - or even a friend of a friend - thank you for going on this journey with us. While we believe that the doctors at Duke gave Dad great care and more time, it is important to remember that the love and prayers that everyone was offering to us - helped tremendously.

From our family to yours - we wish you happy holidays and a healthy 2008. Thanks for reading.

Thank You

We would like to take a moment to thank everyone for your support of our dad and our family the past year. Throughout his illness, Dad's mailbox was always full of cards and his cellphone constantly ringing. Dad spent 13 days in the nursing home and received over 40 visitors.

We would especially like to thank friends and family for celebrating his life with us on Sunday. We know that many people traveled great distances, in bad weather to make it. The chapel was decorated with beautiful flowers and we shared wonderful stories about Dad's life. Thank you for everything.

A slide show was created and shown at the funeral home. It is now available online. Click here to see the slide show or pictures. Once you are on the page, select Movie.

Aaron & Katie

Tribute

Arthur Dean Eckerberg

Arthur Dean Eckerberg, 67, of Gravois Mills, Mo., passed away December 10, 2007, in Olathe, Kan., from cancer. Dean was born November 10, 1940, to Orville and Irene (Evans) Eckerberg in Olathe, Kan. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 16, 2007, at 2 p.m., at McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park, KS 66204. A visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. preceding the service.

Contributions may be made to Duke University, Arthur Eckerberg Memorial Fund, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, 512 S. Mangum St., Suite 400, Durham, NC 27701. He is survived by his son, Aaron Eckerberg and wife Nicole, of Oceanside, Calif.; daughter, Kathryn Burgess and husband Doug of Durham, N.C.; grandchildren Taylor and Madison Eckerberg; a brother, Carl Eckerberg and wife Helen; a sister, Maryanne Duffield and husband Gary and former wife Ceil Witt.

Dean was a former Army Paratrooper, 82nd Airborne Division and raised his family in Platte City, Mo. He worked at the IATAN Power Plant and retired to the Lake of the Ozarks. He was known to many as a son, a brother, a soldier, a father, a Scout leader, and a grandpa. Mostly, he was known as a friend. Arrangements are by: McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park, Kan., (913) 642-3565.

Click to see online original published in the Kansas City Star on 12/13/2007.

Correction

(Please note, the email address that I provided earlier was incorrect. If you sent a story to our friend Billy - please resend to the following address.)

Since you all knew my dad, you know that he told the best stories. We are hoping to give a proper tribute to him - with stories that he would have loved. Please share any memories that you may have of him. Our dear friend Billy will be collecting these - Feel free to email him at billyclark32@yahoo.com or call him at 760.213.8457.

Arthur Eckerberg Memorial Fund

We cannot say enough wonderful things about the care that Dad received while receiving treatments at Duke. We truly believe that Dad's excellent doctor and nurse improved and extended his life. In addition they were wonderful people to our entire family - especially Dad. They are also paving the way in research for Lung Cancer Patients. The memorial fund that we have set up for Dad will go to help in this research at Duke.

Click here to meet dad's oncology team.

Services

Sunday, December 16

Visitation 1:00 PM preceding

Memorial Service 2:00 PM

Both at: McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel

8024 Santa Fe Drive

Overland Park, KS 66204

913.642.3565

Memorial Gathering Refreshments Served

3:00-6:00 PM

Matt Ross Community Center

8101 Marty

Overland Park, KS 66204

913.895.6390

Memorial Service

Services are as follows:
Sunday, December 16
1:00 PM Visitation
2:00 PM Memorial Service
3:00-5:00 PM Coffee & Dessert (Location TBD)

McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel
8024 Santa Fe Drive
Overland Park, KS 66204
913.642.3565

Since you all knew my dad, you know that he told the best stories. We are hoping to give a proper tribute to him - with stories that he would have loved. Please share any memories that you may have of him. Our dear friend Billy will be collecting these - Feel free to email him at billyclark32@yahoo.com or call him at 760.213.8457.

In Loving Memory

With a great deal of sadness, we must tell you that Dad passed away this morning. He was surrounded by family and a lot of love. He was not in pain and his passing was blessedly swift. I will post details for the services as soon as they are available.

With Love,
Aaron & Katie

New Digs

After a seven month hiatus in Durham, North Carolina, Dad is back near his old stomping ground - in Olathe, Kansas.

While receiving treatment at Duke, Dad received eight rounds of chemotherapy and radiation to over one third of his body. His determination is truly amazing and his positive attitude is admired by everyone - especially Aaron and I. As you can imagine, Dad charmed his way into the hearts and minds of all the doctors, nurses and our friends here in Durham.

Dad's determination has afforded him some time to spend with his family and friends back in Kansas City. He will no longer be receiving treatments, his body has endured so much, that it cannot take any more of the harsh treatments.

Dad made the decision to come back to Kansas City in order to be close to more family and friends. While Aaron and I would have fought over him being close to one of us, he was homesick and chose to be closer to home.

Additionally, because Dad's body is so weak from the treatments and cancer, he needed more care than we were able to provide for him at home. Aaron spent the majority of his Thanksgiving holiday doing research and moving Dad into a nursing home -where they can monitor his health and medicines on a constant basis. If you are in the area, he would love to see you - and if you visit be sure to sign his visitor log.

Royal Terrace Nursing & Rehab Center
Dean Eckerberg - Room 111B
201 E Flaming Rd.
Olathe, KS 66061

He can also receive mail at the above address and he is still accessible on his mobile phone. If you do visit, please be aware that he sleeps a lot these days. If you are there, be sure to wake him up and visit with him - he would hate to miss a you!

Thanks to everyone for the continued support of our family. We have had a tough few weeks and we appreciate all the thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Aaron & Niki
Doug & Katie