Update/reminder: A reminder for Dick Eklund’s services this weekend, SUN, 8
FEB from 1-4 PM at Remick & Gendron Funeral Home, Hampton NH. Additional
info is below. Entombment at West Point Cemetery is now scheduled for MAY 2016,
50th Anniversary for the USMA Class of 1966. reunion of Dick’s
classmates.
Link to tribute page with full obituary for Dick: http://www.remickgendron.com/obituaries/Richard-Eklund/
Link to tribute page with full obituary for Dick: http://www.remickgendron.com/obituaries/Richard-Eklund/
All my
best!
Dino
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Dino
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Services for Capt. Richard Eklund
A Celebration of Life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m., on Sunday, Feb. 8,
2015, in the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home - Crematory, 811 Lafayette Rd.,
Hampton. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Entombment with full
military honors will be held at a later date in the columbaria at West Point
Cemetery, alongside his fellow soldiers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the NH SPCA, P.O. Box
196, Stratham, NH 03885 or to Leukemia Research for Dr. Amir Fathi,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Development Office, 100 Cambridge St., Suite
1310, Boston, Mass. 02114, or online at www.giving.massgeneral.org/donate.
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Update: obituary/memorial services for DL
Capt. Richard A. Eklund...
Lieutenant Colonel Richard A. “Dick”
Eklund, USA, (Ret.), 70, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at
the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, MA after a valiant battle
against leukemia.
Sent: Friday, January 23,
2015
Subject: Richard Eklund - Obituary and Celebration of Life
Service
Hello
everyone,
Thank you all for
your support of our family at this difficult time. Lydia is holding up as well
as can be expected. She finally decided upon the date for the Celebration of
Life service. It will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2015, from 1:00 to 4:00 at
the Remick and Gendron Funeral Home in Hampton, New Hampshire.
Lydia asked that I
express to everyone that with weather in New England in February and everyone's
life events that she wants everyone to know that if you cannot attend this
Celebration that she (and the rest of the family) certainly understand.
Attached (below) is
a copy of the obituary as it appears on the Remick and Gendron website. You may
also view it online at www.remickgendron.com.
I know I've left
many people off this "blast" email list, so kindly share with anyone else you
think would wish to know (West Point, Delta Air Lines, Massachusetts General
Hospital, etc, et al)
Our love and
gratitude to all of you for everything.
Deb
(Eklund)
Costa
,
on
Behalf of the Eklund Family
Obituary
for Richard A. Eklund
..........................................
Hampton, NH – Lieutenant Colonel Richard A. “Dick” Eklund, USA, (Ret.), 70, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, MA after a valiant battle against leukemia.
Dick was
born June 10, 1944 in Norwood, MA, a son of the late Oiva and Ann (Waitkevich)
Eklund.
Raised in
Walpole, MA, he graduated from Walpole High School with the Class of 1962 where
he played hockey and football, was Captain of the football team and Class
President. Dick graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point
in 1966 where he had been recruited to play hockey and was also a star lacrosse
player. After earning his commission, he was deployed to the Demilitarized Zone
of Korea. Upon his return he was assigned to the Army Aviation Center at Ft.
Rucker, AL, where he earned his pilot wings. Dick was then deployed to Vietnam
as a twin engine U-21 pilot and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for
meritorious service and the Air Medal for sustained aerial flight in support of
combat ground forces. On October 21, 1969, while on leave in Hawaii, Dick
married the love of his life, Lydia (Reynolds) Eklund.
Upon his
return from Vietnam, he served as an instructor pilot for the U-21 “Ute”
aircraft at Fort Rucker. Following his active duty service, Dick flew for Delta
Air Lines and continued to serve in the Army Reserve. He earned his master’s
degree in systems management from the University of Southern California and was
promoted to Delta Captain on the DC-9 in January, 1988, moving up to the 767-ER
by the time he retired. While at Delta, Dick served as Council 9 Chairman for
the Boston based Delta pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association,
International. A pilot volunteer and advocate, Dick was a mentor to new pilots.
His knowledge and leadership benefited fellow pilots in retirement, insurance,
strike preparedness and legislative affairs. Dick also served as Chair of New
Hampshire Veterans for Wes Clark in his presidential-hopeful
campaign.
He and
Lydia moved to the NH Seacoast in 1973 where he loved to hike the mountains and
boat on Sebago Lake in Maine where they bought a cabin. An avid sportsman, Dick
hiked every mountain he could find while on overnights during Delta trips
throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He and Lydia travelled all over
the world but some of their most precious times were with family, at home, by
the pool, or at the cabin where he taught his nieces and nephews to waterski,
fish and ice skate. He remained in the Army Reserve and with Delta, until his
retirement from both in 2004.
In addition
to Lydia, his cherished wife of over 45 years, Dick is survived by his brothers,
David and his wife Mary of Tiburon, CA and Kenneth and his wife Tammy of Dallas,
TX; his sister, Deb Costa and her husband Tony of Mendon, MA; his nieces, Emily
Paasche, Laura Eklund, Alison Eddy, Edie Puig, Trish Cabral, Margot Neufeld and
April Richardson; his nephews Jason Eklund, Andy Moseley and Adam Moseley and
Dick's most beloved of his nine dogs, his poodle, Lola.
A
Celebration of Life will be held from 1 to 4 PM on Sunday, February 8, 2015 in
the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home - Crematory, 811 Lafayette Rd., Hampton.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Entombment with full military
honors will be held at a later date in the columbaria at West Point Cemetery,
alongside his fellow soldiers. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be
made to the NH SPCA, P.O. Box 196, Stratham, NH 03885 or to Leukemia Research
for Dr. Amir Fathi, Massachusetts General Hospital, Development Office, 100
Cambridge St., Suite 1310, Boston, MA 02114, or online at www.giving.massgeneral.org/donate.
~ IN MEMORY ~
DL Capt. Richard A. Eklund
June 10, 1944 ~ January 13, 2015
Word has been received with the passing of retired
Delta pilot Captain Richard 'Dick' Eklund, age 70. Captain
Eklund had battled leukemia this past year. He is survived by his wife Lydia.
Captain Eklund joined Delta Air Lines 02-08-1973 and was
based Boston then JFK/031 at the time of his retirement. Arrangements are not
yet known. Personal condolences may be sent to the family at 243 Woodland Road,
Hampton NH 03842-1536 ... (603) 601-2641
Should we hear more we will be sure to pass along the
information.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
From: George
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 1:10 PM
Subject: Dick Eklund
Hello everyone,
Dick took his final flight this morning at 10:50 AM.
There will be a Celebration of Life service in NH
sometime in the March timeframe.
Lydia needs comfort and love, but right now rest.
Thank you for everything,
Deb (Eklund) Costa
on behalf of Dick and his entire family and fleet of
friends
Cell/Text: (508)
259-2328
Subject: Update on Dick Eklund's New
Location
Took the opportunity late this afternoon to visit our friend Dick Eklund at
the hospice facility he moved to yesterday...........................
For those of you who have replied to me in the last couple of weeks
concerning Dick’s health and with kind words to extend to him, I did that this
evening during my visit. I can’t tell you if he has days or weeks ahead on this
part of his life’s journey. But, if you were to speak with him, for now, his
voice is strong.
If you are considering a visit, Dick asks that you first call his cell
phone. If your call is not answered, or the VM box is full, you may want to
call the Merrimack Valley Hospice House main number and ask to be put through to
the nurses station in Dick’s area to check on whether he is taking visitors.
Contact information is below.
Dick’s cell: 603-957-1377Merrimack Valley Hospice House360 North Avenue, Haverhill, MA 01830(978) 377-9100
Lydia & Dick Eklund
243 Woodland Road
Hampton, NH 03842
Home number: 603-601-2641
Dicks brother David returned home today. His sister Deb and husband Tony,
and niece Emily were visiting with Lydia and Dick when I arrived.
I will be sure to pass along any updates I receive. I know that both Lydia
and Dick appreciate hearing from friends with words of
encouragement...................
Dino
Subject: Dick Eklund - Somber Health
News
Note below from Dick Eklund’s sister Deb.
Dick is a former BOS Council 9 Chairman. Will notify
you of any developments as I learn them.
Eklund home address: 243 Woodland Road , Hampton, NH 03842
Dino
Begin forwarded message: From: Deb Costa debcosta21@gmail.com
Subject: Dick Eklund - Somber Health News
Subject: Dick Eklund - Somber Health News
Date: January 3, 2015 at 10:31:38 AM
EST
Please accept my apologies for sending this news electronically, but being able to do it more personally is impossible due to the legions of people who asked to be kept updated.
As you probably all know, Dick has been at Mass General Hospital since before Christmas. His leukemia is back after more than a year's courageous battle. He also has a fungal pneumonia. We had a meeting today and the plan is for him to go home to NH probably on Monday. Palliative care will start and then hospice will take over if needed. I am sad to say that my "Eye of the Tiger" warrior brother is not going to pull through this. He will go to NH to his home, his bed, his dog Lola and his wife Lydia where he will finish out his last days or weeks.
He loves his family and friends and told me he is happy that he really lived his life. He knows about and appreciates everyone's prayers and well wishes. As he stated himself earlier this year, it is amazing that he survived last year and through both his and Lydia's birthdays in May and June. He also hung tough for their 45th anniversary in October. I'm sure Lydia would appreciate any cards or notes and she or other family members can read them to Dick when he's home.
Please share this with other friends and people who know Dick and may want to be aware of this. Please, hug everyone you love every chance you can.
Love you all,
Deb (and Tony)(Dick's "Sista")
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