Joseph Otto Ekhaml

Joseph Otto Ekhaml, Age 85, long-time resident of Mahtomedi, passed away on February 19th, 2026.

In 1959, Joe met Donna at a high school dance. They married and had two children, Joe and Tammy. Joe dedicated almost forty years of his career working at Vomela. Outside of work, he had a passion for being near the water; spending much of his free time fishing, boating, canoeing, and water skiing at his various cabins in Northern Minnesota over the years. Eventually, Joe moved away from lakefront living and bought a large farm, where he enjoyed learning about agriculture and operating farm equipment. After selling the farm, one of Joe's greatest accomplishments was constructing a cabin on the Crow Wing River, where he enjoyed many memorable days with family and friends. At home, Joe liked hands-on hobbies such as woodworking, creating stained glass pieces, tackling home improvement projects, and repairing cars. In recent years, he enjoyed exploring nature trails on his electric bike and observing wildlife, like deer and turkeys, right in his yard. He loved being around his friends and family; he never turned down a barbecue invitation or a slice of apple pie. Joe was the person everyone could count on when help was needed, and there was nothing he couldn't accomplish. He valued teaching others and was always willing to share skills and knowledge with anyone wanting to learn. Family and friends were always at the heart of Joe's life, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Joe is survived by his wife of 66 years, Donna; children Joe (Ronda) Ekhaml and Tammy (Bob) Kramlinger; grandchildren Angela (Alex) Fritz, Jake Ekhaml, Joe (Haley) Ekhaml, Gina Kramlinger, and Heidi Kramlinger; great-grandchildren Lincoln Fritz, Aiden and Russell Ekhaml.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 12 at 11:00 AM at St. Jude of the Lake, located at 700 Mahtomedi Avenue, Mahtomedi, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.