Fr. John E. Eck died October 4, 2022 at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling, Illinois. He was 85. He was born November 12, 1936, in Springfield, IL, the son of John and Jewelle DeFrates Eck. He is survived by his sister Patricia, his brothers Donald and Richard, and many nieces and nephews.
Fr. Eck professed vows in 1955 and was ordained a priest in 1963. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Loyola University, Chicago, and an M.A. in Counseling from Western Illinois University, Macomb.
He taught at Spalding Institute, Peoria, IL (1958-59), before entering the Viatorian Seminary (1959-1963). He returned to teaching at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL (1963-1966) and Alleman High School in Rock Island, IL (1966 to 1978). From 1978 to 1983, he served as Director of Affiliates and Novice Master for the Province. For the next seven years (1983-90), he taught at Prologue High School in Chicago. Fr. Eck served as Parochial Vicar at St Joseph Church, Springfield, IL (1990-98) and St. Viator Parish, Chicago (1999-2005) before being named Pastor of St. Viator Parish from 2005-2009. He retired in 2009 to St. Patrick Parish in Kankakee, IL. In 2016, he moved to the Viatorian Province Center retirement residence in Arlington Heights, IL.
Visitation for Fr. Eck will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, October 10 at the Viatorian Province Center followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.