Robert J. Ecklund, age 82, of Kiester, died on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea, where he had resided the past four years.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells. Following cremation, interment will take place in Kiester at a later date.

Robert J. Ecklund was born on Oct. 20, 1923, in Kiester, the son of Frank and Louise (Amundson) Ecklund. He graduated from Kiester High School. Robert worked at the Kiester Sales Barn, the Kiester Elevator and started Ecklund Trucking with offices in Kiester and Forest City, Iowa. He retired in the early 1980s.

He is survived by a daughter, Sandi Albers of Kiester, a son, Mark Ecklund of Owatonna, and daughter Robbin Carlson of Glendale, Ariz. There are three grandchildren: Stacy (wife Julie) Albers, Tamara (husband Jonathan) Janzig, and Tia (husband Ed) Grunst; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson.