Ann S. Eckert, 85, of Port Charlotte, FL, died on Monday, April 7, 2025, at Advent Hospital in Port Charlotte, FL. She was born in Madison, WI, on October 16, 1939. Ann was the only child of Clifford and Virginia Peterson.
Ann was married for 65 years to Rev. Jerry Eckert. They had two children, David and Karen.
Ann was a 1957 graduate of New London High School and earned her BS degree at Texas Women’s University in Denton, TX, in 1961 with a major in home economics education. She taught a year in Seagoville, TX, and a part of a year in Beloit, WI. She earned a Masters Degree in College Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1984. She was Associate Director of Records at the University of New Orleans (1985-1990) and Registrar at Carroll College, Waukesha, WI, 1990-1995. The Eckerts both retired in 1995 and returned to the New Orleans area. To care for her mother, they moved to Port Charlotte, FL in 2003 where they lived until entering a life care facility in 2022.
Ann enjoyed music, playing the clarinet, piano, and guitar; playing in high school and university pep bands; participating in bell choirs; and singing in church and community choirs.
She grew up in the Methodist Church in Montfort, WI. She had to change her membership many times as a pastor’s wife but was able to have significant time in the United Methodist Church (UMC) of Whitewater, WI; Aldersgate UMC in Slidell, LA; and Gulf Cove UMC in Port Charlotte, FL.
Ann is survived by her husband Jerry; her son David, his wife Sachiko, and grandson Enzo; her daughter, Karen, her husband Peter Jest, and granddaughter Elise who is married to Michael (MJ) Carvan; and many caring friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents Clifford and Virginia Peterson.
Instead of flowers, the family invites everyone interested to send a donation to the Morton Cure Paralysis Foundation (5021 Vernon Ave S, MN 55436, or MCPF.org) in her memory. Also, Ann understood how others might send a donation to a charity of their own choice in her name. She would have been honored by that gesture as well.
There will be a graveside service on August 2, 2025, at 3:30 pm for family and friends at Hill Crest Cemetery, Montfort, WI, followed by lunch and visitation at the Cottonwood Supper Club, 4716 Green River Road, Fennimore, WI. RSVP to aj_eckert@hotmail.com or to Rev. Jerry Eckert, 23013 Westchester Blvd. #358, Punta Gorda, FL 33980.
