Dennis Carl Eckman received the ultimate promotion, joining the lord in heaven on May 23, 2022 at home in Windsor at the age of 82.

A career farmer and family man, Dennis was born to Carl and Valva Eckman in Sterling on Nov. 11, 1939. He grew up in the Fairfield community northeast of Haxtun and attended the Fairfield school through eighth grade then graduated from Haxtun High School and finished six semesters at Colorado State University.

Dennis joined his father at the farm, married Barbara Byrkit in 1965 and they had three sons together. Dennis was very involved in the Haxtun United Methodist church and Lions Club. He had a great love for music with beautiful harmony and grew up singing along with his father. After years of chasing kids and all their activities, family vacations and 47 years of farming, Dennis and Barb retired and moved to Windsor to be closer to grandkids and to experience a different kind of life. Eventually, winters were spent in Arizona to escape the cold weather. He had several motorcycles over the years and loved exploring Arizona and Colorado with friends.

Dennis is survived by wife Barb; sons Rob and wife Robin, Ft Collins, Russ and wife Stephanie, Tulsa Okla., and Alan and wife Amanda, Golden; grandchildren Treycen, Rylie, Andrisen and Rhett; sister Mary Ann and husband Winston Ham, Haxtun and all of their family.

He is preceded in death by his parents and younger sister Caroline.

A Celebration of life service will be held at Haxtun United Methodist Church on Thursday, June 2 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Haxtun United Methodist Legacy Fund. This fund provides recognition awards to graduating high school students who are active in church fellowship and programs. Checks can be written to the Haxtun United Methodist Church and funds will be transferred to the Legacy Fund. Electronically, donations can be made at this link: Donate - Community Foundation of Northern Colorado (nocofoundation.org). When selecting the fund designation, select "other" in the drop-down list, and enter "HUMC Legacy Fund."