Richard J. Eckstein, 75, of Chillicothe, died Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Born Feb. 11, 1933, in East Peoria to Lawrence L. and Otillia M. (Parr) Eckstein, he married Rosemary Irene McCurdy Oct. 13, 1956, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Peoria. She survives.

Also surviving are six children, Randal (Patti) Eckstein of Highland, Rita (Jon) Burklund of Peoria, Rodney (Jane) Eckstein of St. Louis, Roger Eckstein of Franklin, Wis., Ryan (Dyann) Eckstein of Coarsegold, Calif., and Ronald (Carol) Eckstein of Erlanger, Ky.; 15 granddchildren; two sisters, Bernadine (Donald) Hageman and Madeline (the late Willis) Steigler, both of East Peoria; and special friend, George Shepherd of East Peoria.

He was preceded in death by two brothers.

He was a United States Army veteran, serving from 1953 to 1955.

He was stationed in Tokyo, Japan.

He started working at Caterpillar Inc. in 1951 and officially retired from Caterpillar in 1998.

He was an alderman on the Chillicothe City Council for 16 years.

He and his wife were volunteers for Heart of Illinois Harvest.

He was  member of St. Edward Catholic Church and served on the church council for many years.

Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Weber-Hurd Funeral Home. A funeral mass is at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Edward Catholic Church, with visitation one hour before the mass. Father Glenn Harris will officiate. Burial will be in Chillicothe City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Rescue 33.

Online condolences may be made at www.weberhurdfuneralhome.com.