Cornelius E. Eckstein, of Sunman, was born in St. Nicholas, Indiana, on January 16, 1926, a son to Amand and Mary Federle Eckstein. He proudly served in the United States Navy aboard an LST 1110 during World War II. He then attended New York Tech for 2 years, learning television repair in its infancy, and was a pioneer in the early introduction of television in the Sunman area. Cornelius married Carol Jean Lattire on October 22, 1949 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church and she survives. He was an electrician and instrumentation specialist, and worked for Monsanto for 28 years. Cornelius was an active member of St. Nicholas Church and the Kenneth L. Diver Post #337 Sunman American Legion. His family remembers him as a man who loved working with his tools, making wine with his brother, Fr. Frank, and having his family together. On Sunday, January 17, 2016, at the age of 90, Cornelius passed away, surrounded by his family, at Aspen Place Health Campus in Greensburg.
Those surviving who will cherish Cornelius’ memory include his wife of over 66 years, Carol Jean Eckstein; children, Greg (Carol) Eckstein of Sunman, Kathy (Terry) Johnson of Bright, Steve (Christy) Eckstein of Greensburg, Rodney (Sandy) Eckstein of St. Leon, Mark (Christy) Eckstein of Monrovia, Darrell (Cathy) Eckstein of Scottsdale, AZ, and Anita (Jack) Wallace of Greensburg; 20 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and 7 great, great grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers, Edmund Eckstein of Sunman, Fr. Francis Eckstein of Milan, and Walter Eckstein of Morris; sisters, Verena Fette of New Alsace, Alice Wuestefeld of St. Leon, and Matilda Nordmeyer of Sharonville, OH. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Albert Eckstein, and sister, Stella Doerflein.
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, 107 Vine Street, Sunman. Rosary will begin at 3:15 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial, officiated by Father Francis Eckstein, is Thursday, January 21, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors provided by the Kenneth L Diver Post #337 American Legion.
Memorial donations are requested to St. Nicholas School, Sunman Life Squad, or the Sunman Vol. Fire Department. To sign the online guestbook or to leave a personal condolence, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger is honored to serve the family of Cornelius E. Eckstein.