K.O. Eckland Obituary

K.O. Eckland, 83, passed away Monday, May 4, 2009, at his home in Paradise, Calif. K.O. was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in Berkeley, Calif. While in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he met his future wife, Lucille Callison, a USO girl, in Spokane, Wash. They lived in Shell Beach for a few years where K.O. was a freelance commercial artist, then they moved to Los Angeles where he became a commercial artist for the Los Angeles Times. In 1976, K.O. returned to Pismo Beach, where he contributed articles to the Telegram-Tribune. He became active in the local traditional jazz community and helped establish the annual Pismo Beach Jazz Festival "Jubilee by the Sea," as well as produced the monthly jazz newsletter, Offbeat for the Central Coast Hot Jazz Society, also known as the Basin Street Regulars. K.O. Eckland left behind a large body of work - a favorite part of which was the Aerofiles.com website, as his greatest love was flying airplanes. He illustrated Richard Bach''s book "A Gift of Wings," and contributed articles to aviation magazines over the years. K.O. was proud to be a member of the San Luis Obispo Sheriff''s Aero Squadron and had been active with the Paso Robles Estrella Warbird Museum. K.O.''s second greatest love was traditional jazz. After hearing Turk Murphy at Earthquake McGoon''s in San Francisco and Lu Watters'' Yerba Buena Jazz Band in Berkeley after the War, he wanted to play jazz piano. He played piano in several bands over the years, notably the Firehouse Five Plus 2, the Desolation Jazz Ensemble & Mess Kit Repair Battalion and the Pismo Experimental Jazz Band. K.O. produced two compendiums of jazz bands and musicians, Jazz West and Jazz West 2. He enjoyed writing tunes which have been recorded by contemporary traditional jazz bands. K.O. had moved to Paradise in 2004 to be close to family members, where he also shared the remainder of his life with Waldo, the cat. K.O. leaves his children Daniel and his wife Faye Eckland, who have adopted Waldo, Nancy Berkley and Taina Eckland; ex-wife, Lucille Eckland; and two grandsons Ryan and Beau Berkley. A memorial will take place at the Pismo Beach "Jubilee by the Sea" October 2009.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Luis Obispo County Tribune on May 24, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for K.O. Eckland

9 Entries

Yuri Kuzmin (Burunduk)

June 15, 2009

It's very pity to hear that such bright man has gone. Thousand peoples and me also are amazing by his encyclopedia of US Aircraft

I'm not familiar with Mr. Eckland, but he presented me a lot of joy hours with Aerofiles.com. Thank you a lot, Mr. Eckland, and best wishes to you in your heaven.

John K. Lewis

June 1, 2009

Like so many others, I never had the pleasure of meeting K.O. in person but our common interest lead to many exchanges of information. It was very rewarding to see items I sent to him show up in AeroFiles and also to see my name listed along with other contributors like Bill Larkin and Jos Heyman.
Although he will be missed, his legacy will live on among us who treasure his life's work in Aviation History.

Job Conger

May 28, 2009

I'm sorry that the soul of one of the nicest fellows in aviation history has truly "slipped the surly bonds of earth," and I wish all best to his dearest friends and family who remain behind. K.O. produced a solid model kit of the Travel Air 4000 which I purchased but never built and will treasure even more today. Getting the kit produced was a Herculean effort, and his final note to me about it closed with "Never again!" There will never again be another K.O. Eckland!.

May 28, 2009

I met K.O. through Aerofiles, and it was his attention to detail, his very apparent sense of humor and his prompt replies which made me want to always be in touch with him. His art work is ourstanding and I'm honored to have a few of his postcard size prints. I don't know what made me send my last note to K.O. on May 4th, 2009. Goodbye dear friend.
Ron Ogren
Orchard Park, NY

Ron Ogren

May 28, 2009

Dan Shumaker

May 27, 2009

K.O. Eckland's AeroFiles website is an encyclopedic source of information on American aviation. K. O.’s aviation knowledge, his artistic ability and desire for accuracy resulted in the high quality of the AeroFlies website. His devotion to producing this body of work is greatly appreciated by enthusiasts all over the world, as is evident by over ten million visits to his website last year.

Ron Dupas

May 27, 2009

Many years ago K.O. was instrumental in helping me set up an aviation web site. His advice was simple and quite contrary to the trend: he said to keep things simple so anyone anywhere in the world could benefit even they had the simplest computer and slowest internet connection. K.O. was unwavering in his commitment to freely and widely sharing his information. His Aerofiles.com set a high standard for aviation web sites and it's popularity and value validates his way of doing things.

Bill Larkins

May 26, 2009

K.O. was a model of generosity to the aviation community in sharing vast amounts of free information to enthusiasts all over the world. Although I met him several times and corresponded for years he never mentioned an interest in music. Many of us likewise live multiple lives and all we ever discussed was aviation. We had similar experiences and a love for the old San Francisco Bay Airdrome and his poetic talent gave its description on AeroFiles a beautiful touch that I could never have done.

Greg Herrick

May 26, 2009

I never met K.O. Eckland in person. However, I have been directly touched by his life through my frequent use of AeroFiles. The knowledge gained and shared has undoubtedly touched the lives of many others as well. What a great resource and what a creative man he must have been.

For me, the connection with Richard Bach further demonstrates how closely we are connected to one another, though we often do not even know it. Richard Bach lived just down the street from me when I was growing up in Ottumwa, Iowa. His books (and their illustrations) were an inspiration to many. What a small world, so easy to touch when you share you passions!

I am pleased to, albeit belatedly, learn more of this member of the Greatest Generation, his many contributions, and the joys of life he clearly enjoyed sharing with others.

Thank You K.O. Eckland!

Greg Herrick
Aviation Foundation of America

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