Karl R. Eckloff

PAWTUCKET - Karl R. Eckloff, 56, died on July 21, at home in Pawtucket.

Karl was born in Concord, NH, on Nov. 17, 1958, the son of Stanton H. Proper, formerly of Keene, NH, and his wife Kathryn A. Eckloff Proper, formerly of Penacook, NH.

In 1990, Karl legally changed his name from Karl Stanton Proper to Karl Russell Eckloff, in loving remembrance of his maternal grandfather, Russell A. Eckloff, who had lived in Penacook, NH.

Educated in the Bristol and Penacook, NH public schools, he graduated from Merrimack Valley High School in 1979, with a special education diploma. Karl's classmates at MVHS were his loyal friends, and he was their "weatherman," always apprising them of the day's weather forecast.

Karl was employed in a sheltered workshop operated by Blackstone Valley Chapter, RIARC, and was assisted at home by staff of United Cerebral Palsy of R.I.

A lifelong Episcopalian, Karl was formerly a communicant of St. Michael's Church, Bristol, where he served as an acolyte and also as a member of the altar guild. In Providence, he was a parishioner of the Church of the Redeemer, on Hope Street, where he served as lector.

Karl passed many happy summers at Camp Stone Tower in Bristol. He also participated several times in the State of Rhode Island Special Olympics, bringing home medals, and served in statewide advocacy groups, as a speaker.

Karl enjoyed using his computer, playing the guitar and bowling. He had many friends among the other consumers served by Bristol County Chapter and Blackstone Valley Chapters, RIARC, and by UCPRI, as well as many warmly supportive staff persons from the agencies.

Karl is survived by his mother, Kathryn A. Eckloff, of Fostoria, Ohio, formerly of Bristol, and Concord, NH, and by his sister Ada M. Brown; three nieces: K. Michelle Mayo, Mary K. White and Meagan C. White; his maternal uncle Russell A. Eckloff, of York, Penn.; three cousins, Gretchen G. Eckloff of Dover, Penn.; Holly E. Weinrich of York, Penn.; and Kenneth R.Proper of Keene, NH.
There are no calling hours. The memorial service will be a celebration of Karl's life to be held at St. Paul's Church, 21 Centre St., Concord, NH, onWednesday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. Interment of ashes will be in the family plot in Maple Grove Cemetery, Concord, NH. There will also be a memorial service at the Church of the Redeemer, 655 Hope St., Providence, on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 10 a.m.

Donations in his memory may be made to United Cerebral Palsy, 200 Main St. Suite 210, Pawtucket, RI, 02860 or to Blackstone Valley Chapter, RI Association for Retarded Citizens, 500 ProspectSt., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Emmons Funeral Home of Bristol, NH is incharge of arrangements.