Frederick "Pete" Eckersen

Capt. Frederick “Pete” Eckersen, USMC ret., of Alexandria, Minnesota, passed away on Monday September 12, 2022, at Alomere Health, in Alexandria, Minnesota. Services will be held later next spring. Burial will be at the Graceville Consolidated Cemetery, in Graceville.

Frederick “Pete” Eckersen was born to Nathaniel and Annie Eckersen on April 30, 1932 in Port Orange, Florida. He was the youngest of eight children, having six older brothers and one sister. Pete attended school at Port Orange, Florida. He played football and was class president, graduating in 1950.

After graduating from high school, Pete joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He did his Basic Training at Parris Island, South Carolina, before being sent to South Korea. There he was wounded and returned home to Port Orange. Shortly afterward he reenlisted and was stationed in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, where he met Shirley Rixe, of Clinton, Minnesota. Both worked in the computer section of the base until they married on September 15, 1956 at which point Shirley resigned her position. Pete later served a tour of duty in Vietnam before retiring in 1973 after 23 years in the Marine Corps.

Pete moved the family to Plymouth, Minnesota, and took a position with Dayton-Hudson Corporation as a computer division systems manager. He retired after 20 years spending his later years in Port Orange, FL and Alexandria, MN.

Pete enjoyed fishing and especially teaching his grandchildren how to fish. He never forgot the days of his youth on the shrimp boat and cast net fishing.

Pete passed away at the age of 90 and leaves behind his loving wife of 66 years Shirley, of Alexandria. Also left to cherish his memory are sons: William (Susan Brooks) of Morris, MN and Jon (Julie) of Eden Prairie, MN; daughters: Carol of Carmichael, CA and Joan of Red House, VA; six grandchildren: Chris of Copperas Cove, TX, Jill (Doug) Mezera of St. Louis Park, MN, Nicolaas (Michaela) Martin of St. Francis, MN, Chelsie (Joshua) Vogt of Madison Heights, VA, Steven Felix of Madison Heights, VA and Joshua of Eden Prairie, MN; sixteen great grandchildren Patrick of Morris, MN, Ben, Alana and Nora Roseth of Cyrus, MN, Charlotte, Eloise and Elizabeth Mezera of St. Louis Park, MN, Xander of St. Francis, MN, Braedon, Isaiah, Noah, Elena, Josiah and Kai of Madison Heights, VA and Charles and Jaxson of Madison Heights, VA. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary and his six brothers and his daughter Catherine.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Grand Arbor Memory Care, 420 12th Ave. E. Alexandria, MN 56308 and the American Legion, Post 87,  P.O. Box 1243, Alexandria, MN 56308.