Veronica Ecker

Veronica M. Ecker, age 97 of New Munich, died peacefully, with family by her side on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 8 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. followed by the Christian Mothers at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Veronica Mae Schrantz was born September 21, 1920 in Slayton, Minnesota to Arthur and Anna (Walsh) Schrantz. She was united in marriage to Elmer Ecker on January 3, 1942 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Slayton. After completing the nursing program at the St. Cloud Hospital, Veronica and Elmer started their family. She would help Elmer as his bookkeeper at the feed mill in New Munich while raising her family. After her husband's death in 1969, she took refresher courses in nursing and began working as a registered nurse at the Albany Hospital.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich, St. Ann's Christian Women, Daughters of Isabella Joan of Arc Circle of Melrose #568, and the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary. Veronica enjoyed gardening, reading, sewing, dancing at the New Munich Ballroom, and baking, her specialty was her caramel rolls. She enjoyed traveling, especially to Europe, Ireland, and Alaska. She loved spending time with her family during summer vacations taken at Lake Mary.

Survivors include her children, David Ecker of Melrose, Tom (Kathy) Ecker of Miltona, Bill (Elaine) Ecker of Perham, Steve (Sue) Ecker of Long Prairie, Dianne (Craig) Smith of Miltona, and Laurie (Bill) Welz of Delano; 16 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Veronica was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Ecker; parents; and brothers, Bernard and Donald Schrantz.

Serving as casket bearers will be Todd Ecker, Dana Marrocco, Heidi Wrede, John Ecker, Brian Ecker, Adam Welz, Jason Ecker, and Aaron Ecker. Cross bearer will be Lisa Gustafson and scripture bearer will be Melissa Koch. Honorary bearers will be the Christian Mothers. Serving as gift bearers will be Carl Ecker, Michael Welz, and Craig Ecker and readers will be Gretta Eder and Megan Stern.