Donald Edgar Eckhardt

1932 - 2025

Donald Edgar Eckhardt, of Fredericksburg, passed away on July 22, 2025, at his home, at the age of 93 years. He was born on March 5, 1932, the son of Otto A. Eckhardt and Antonie Selma (Braeutigam) Eckhardt. Donald was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg.

Donald attended grade school at Meusebach Creek Community School. He had wonderful memories of riding his donkey, Pete, from the Eckhardt home place, crossing the Pedernales River before reaching the Meusebach Creek schoolhouse to join his classmates.

Donald excelled in agriculture under the direction of J.L.Tatum during his Fredericksburg High School years on Travis Street. He enjoyed showing steers, lambs and hogs with FFA classmates, and his brothers. He saw great success at Gillespie County, District, and Major Livestock Shows with so many of his Gillespie County friends and family. Upon graduation in 1949, he joined his father and brothers in farming and ranching. He expanded the family peach orchard operations, leasing peach orchards from his father, and bought a ranch in Burnet and Williamson counties with two of his brothers, where they raised Angora goats and Angus cattle.

Donald was inducted into the United States Army, and served from 1955-1957 with a final tour with a Field Artillery Missile Battalion in Vicenza, Italy. He was honored to serve his country, as his father had in WWI, and his brothers in WWII and later. After his military service, he returned to Fredericksburg and resumed his farming and ranching ambitions.

Donald knew the importance of Texas Agriculture as he was immersed in it all of his life. As the Gillespie County Fruit Growers (GCFG) Co-Op's original Fredericksburg location was no longer large enough to handle the increasing quantity of peaches being produced in Gillespie County, he, his brothers, and his father were instrumental in helping to plan and build the new, larger GCFG Co-op Grading and Packing Shed (Burg's Corner) in Stonewall, Texas. He served as President of GCFG for many years, along with leadership positions in Texas Fruit Growers Association and Hill Country Fruit Growers Association. He also served as a director of Gillespie County Farm Bureau in the mid 1960's to early 1970s. In January 1978, Donald was asked to be a charter member of Governor Dolph Briscoe's initiative to establish a "Governor's Committee to Make Texas Agriculture No. 1 in Income and Profit". This was part of a statewide effort to develop a "united front" to strengthen the economic position of our most vital industry.

Donald met the love of his life, Carol Kay Rode, at a family barbecue in 1969 along the Pedernales River. They were married at Bethany Lutheran Church February 27, 1971 and they became a farming and ranching team. They welcomed their first daughter, Debra, and two years later, welcomed another daughter, Dianne. Donald and Carol always encouraged their daughters to become independent women, pursuing their education and careers. Donald taught his daughters everything he would have taught a son, from driving tractors and farm equipment, building fence, working cattle, and most importantly, growing peaches. He taught his daughters the gift of land, and how to best care for the land you have been gifted with.

As a second generation non-irrigated peach grower, he understood the value of rain, water and land conservation farming practices. He looked forward to attending or hosting Agricultural Field Days, demonstrating and sharing information with other livestock producers and peach growers. He never missed an opportunity to promote the peach industry, especially if there was cold beer, barbecue, and friends he could enjoy time with. He felt it was important to attend community events and always enjoyed entering prize winning peaches at the Stonewall Peach Jamboree, Night in Old Fredericksburg, and Gillespie County Fair peach contests. He was well known for his "End Of The Peach Season" appreciation barbecues at the river on the Eckhardt home place. Donald never expected it, but was thrilled when Dianne and Debbie returned home to the peach orchard operations as he and Carol approached retirement. He provided the girls with volumes of advice, knowledge, patience and acceptance in the power of Mother Nature. After all, he knew every year, and crop would bring completely different weather conditions and need for adaptations to remain successful.

When Donald became an Opa, his love for his three grandchildren became very apparent. He taught all three the importance of hard work and dedication that would mold them each into future successful adults, each with a different path. He also taught them to laugh and find humor even if they were side by side with him at the barns, in the peach orchard, or at the peach stand. His humor, wit, and great storytelling kept his family entertained and heartened even in the hardest of times. He loved to teach them how to hunt whitetail deer, followed by field dressing, processing, and sausage making. His goal was to teach them all to do the right thing, persevere, and knowing one will be rewarded. He truly was the best Opa to all three.

Donald was preceded in death by both of his parents, his loving wife, Carol, five brothers and four sisters:

Alvin Eckhardt, Clemens (Dottie) Eckhardt, Esther (Jerry) Williams, Gilbert Eckhardt, Adeline (Al) Carter, Norma (Boyce) Hoffmann, Victor (Josie) Eckhardt, Eric (Gladys) Eckhardt, and a stillborn sister.

He is survived by his two daughters: Debbie Eckhardt Cox of Fredericksburg

Dianne Eckhardt of Fredericksburg

Three grandchildren, Quentin, Jordan, and Evelyn Cox of Fredericksburg

Many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews across Texas and Oklahoma.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to his very loving and caring doctors and healthcare providers, including Dr. Jeff Holt and his nurse, Melissa; Dr. Alyssa Rieber and her staff, as well as the wonderful Methodist Hill Country PT, OT, and Hospice nurses and caregivers Maria, Jam, Melissa, and Anyssa. They all allowed our father so much peace and dignity to live out his life on the family farm.

His body lay in state at Bethany Lutheran Church on Tuesday, July 29, from 9-10 a.m. with funeral services at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Ray Tiemann officiating.

Graveside services and interment with Military Honors followed in Der Stadt Friedhof.

Pallbearers were Quentin Cox, Kyle Segner, Chad Eckhardt, Byron Eckhardt, Weston Hooker and Tyler Hooker. Honorary pallbearers were Jimmy Hooker, Bruce Eckhardt, Rodney Eckhardt and Jim Sands.

Visitation for Donald was held on Monday, July 28, from 4-6 p.m. in the Chapel of the Schaetter Funeral Home, Fredericksburg.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Fredericksburg FFA, Bethany Lutheran Church or Hill Country Youth Ranch.

Arrangements under the direction of Schaetter Funeral Home, Fredericksburg, Texas.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.schaetter.com