John “Jack” Griffith Eckmann, 75, of Medford, Oregon, passed away on March 13, 2023 after suffering a severe head trauma in a skiing accident, followed by a heart attack twenty-four days later. Jack—as he was best known—was born on September 21, 1947 to Kenneth and Muriel “Mibs” Eckmann in Gibbstown, New Jersey. His older sister Joanne proceeded him and he was followed by his younger brother Jim.

Kenneth was a chemical engineer by trade working for DuPont and with each promotion the company moved the family to a new town. In 1949 they moved to Louviers, Colorado. In 1953 back to Gibbstown, and that same year to Washburn, Wisconsin. In 1958 they settled for a few years in Wenonah, New Jersey for Jack’s high school years.

After graduating from Woodbury High School in 1965, he went on to study Biology at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He spoke often of the good times he had during his college years—the friendships he made, his summers pumping gas at Yellowstone National Park and working at the DuPont explosive department, and the fact that he was a founding member of the lacrosse program at the college.

After graduating from Bucknell he attended the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. On October 2, 1970 he met Minnesota native Deb O’Brien at the Stub & Herbs. They fell in love. After graduating from dental school he was offered a role with the Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. He served there and the two dated long distance.

During a one month break from the service on June 1, 1974 he traveled back to Hastings, Minnesota and the two got married. Shortly after Jack got recommissioned to Portland, Oregon, where they settled.

After his time in the service, Jack opened a dental practice in Lake Oswego, just outside Portland in 1975.

They had two children — Jeffrey O’Brien Eckmann (born in 1981) and Joy Antoinette Eckmann (born in 1984). Jack was all about his family. He was actively involved in their church, they went skiing, vacationed, and attended a million youth sporting events as a vocal sideline fan. For a few years Jack had his private pilot license and they would hop around to family events. Jack would go on mission trips to Cambodia to use his skills and talents as a dentist. He made eight trips in all (Deb accompanied him on one of them), and the two also made a mission trip to Africa to help out in an orphanage and bring them the gospel.

It was hard for Jack to retire because he loved his patients so much. In some cases there were three generations from one family. But in 2016 Jack retired. His practice still operates today under new ownership. 

His most recent years he kept himself busy with making many visits to see family and his grandchildren, also with going on trips and spending time with friends.

He was predeceased by his parents Kenneth and Muriel “Mibs”, his in-laws John “Hub” and Rae-Mary O’Brien. And he is survived by his siblings Joanne Kushall, Jim Eckmann, wife Deb Eckmann, children Jeffrey Eckmann and Joy Bozzo, in-laws Elaine Eckmann and Stephen Bozzo, and five grandchildren — Amberlina Eckmann (12), Abra Bozzo (10), Ryan Eckmann (10), Micah Bozzo (8), and Stephen Jack Bozzo (3).

Services will be held at Mountain Park Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon on April 14, 2023 at 2:30pm.

To a person, when hearing of the loss of Jack, everyone mentions his big smile and infectious laugh.

He is loved, and he will be missed. 

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