Oliver Eckles Woodburn

Oliver Eckles, 87, of Woodburn died April 14, 2015, at Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola.

Graveside services were held 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 17, at Iowa Veterans Cemetery. Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Osceola, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.kalefuneralhome.com.

Oliver Burnham Eckles, son of Dora (Shaw) and Lester Burnham Eckles, was born Nov. 18, 1927, in Jackson, Mich.

After high school graduation, Oliver went on to Iowa State University for two years. He participated with the Unger Program and traveled to China where he taught agricultural methods to the Chinese for two years. He returned from China and enlisted in the Navy, where he was in the Submarine Service, serving on both the Sea Fox and the Green Fish, before being honorably discharged in June 1954.

On March 28, 1953, while on leave from the Navy, Oliver married Lily Hansen at Ankeny United Methodist Church. They lived on a farm northeast of Ankeny for 25 years, and then moved to Des Moines. They moved to their farm near Woodburn 19 years ago.

Oliver was a farmer and commodities broker. He was a member of the Chicago Board of Trade and held a New York Stock Exchange license. He was a member of Ankeny United Methodist Church, Clarke County Cattleman’s Association and Herndon-Oehlert American Legion Post in Woodburn.

Oliver is survived by his wife Lily Eckles of Woodburn; daughter Susan Eckles of Des Moines; son Andrew (wife Lee) Eckles of Lyndhurst, Ohio; and grandson Brett; as well as other relatives and friends.

Oliver was preceded in death by his parents; brother Robert and sister Nancy.