Roger P. Eckert

1951 - 2024

A Mass of Christian Burial for Roger P. Eckert, age 72, of Cushing Avenue, Johnsonburg, PA, will be held 10 a.m., Thursday, June 13, 2024 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church of Johnsonburg with David J. Wilson, Pastor as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery. Public visitation will be held, Thursday, June 13, 2024 from 8:30 until 9:30 a.m. at the Ubel Funeral Home of Johnsonburg, PA.
Roger passed away on June 11, 2024 at Penn Highlands-Elk, following a lengthy illness.
For all but 13 years of his life, Roger was a resident of Johnsonburg. He was a 1969 graduate of Johnsonburg Area High School, and a 1971 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, Mont Alto Campus, having received an Associate Degree in Forest Technology.
Roger was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, camping, hiking, biking and motorcycling. He was also a "Car Guy", who loved Corvettes (of which he owned two, a 1985 Coupe and a 2001 Convertible), as well as rare Classics and Muscle Cars. He was most recently involved with the project of restoring a 1967 Chrysler 300 Convertible. He also enjoyed cooking, baking a numerous variety of "Sweet Treats", and outdoor barbecuing.
Born October 10, 1951 at the Elk County General Hospital, in Ridgway, he was a son of the late John R. and Marian J. (Johnson) Eckert.
He was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church of Johnsonburg, the AARP, and a past member of the Johnsonburg Sportsmen's Club, Johnsonburg Gun Club, the NRA, South Erie Turners Club, Ridgway Musicians Association Local #317, Beaver Valley Musicians Union Local #82, the St. Marys Community Band and the Monaca Coronet Band in Monaca, PA; having performed in numerous band concerts and marching in many parades throughout Western PA, as a Trombonist, in his younger years.
He was an astute investor. A member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) with a keen interest in events taking place on Wall Street, in the financial markets, and an active trader of "large denomination" US Currency.
Roger was employed at the Johnsonburg Paper Mill (Penntech, Willamette, Weyerhaeuser, Domtar) for nearly 30 years, starting on March 1, 1982 until his retirement on November 14, 2011, at the age of 60.
He began his career as a "Summer Assistant" with the Hammermill Paper Company's Northern Timberlands Division in Pittsfield, PA during the summer of 1971. He then began his "fulltime" working career at Stackpole Carbon Company's Northfork Lodge near St. Marys on May 4, 1972, continuing his employment with Stackpole Carbon until December 1, 1972.  At that time he resigned from Stackpole Carbon and accepted a Civil Engineering position offered to him by Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Located in Beaver, PA, starting with them on December 4, 1972 and continued with them up until July 27, 1977.  At that time he accepted employment with Urban Engineers, Inc. of Erie, PA, starting with them on August 1, 1977, holding a variety of positions with them, most notably, assisting with the Engineering, Design and Layout of Erie's "Bayfront-Port Access Highway" in 1981. He then resigned from Urban Engineers on February 26, 1982 to accept employment at Penntech Papers, Inc, back in his hometown of Johnsonburg. During his time at the paper mill, Roger was a member of the (then new) Number Five Paper Machine "Start-up Team".
In addition to his parents, Roger was predeceased by his only sibling, his brother Robert "Bobby" Eckert, who died of cancer in 1959 at the age of six. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was known locally as a nice guy and a funny guy.
Roger wrote out most of this obituary, well before his death, and he suggested memorials to the Johnsonburg Public Library or the Johnsonburg Community Fund.
Online condolences will be accepted at the Ubel Funeral Home website www.nedzafamilyfuneralhomes.com.