Roland “John” Eckhardt Jr., born March 23, 1942, in Oakland, California, to Roland and Winifred Eckhardt, passed away March 15, 2024, in Lincoln, California.

His family moved to Clearlake Oaks in 1945 where John grew up early working in his dad’s automotive shop, “Roland’s Garage.”

He joined the Clearlake Oak fire department at 16 as a volunteer. He graduated from Lower Lake High School in 1960 where he was student body president.

He joined the Clearlake Fire Department in 1968 (Lakeshore Fire Protection District) and retired as deputy chief in 2002. He was on the Redbud Hospital Board from 1996 until 2005, Highland Water Board from 1982 till 2021, was a Mason since 1968 and was an Elk since 1971.

He loved hunting, fishing, boating, RVing, motorcycles and was a car enthusiast.

John and Denise moved to Lincoln in 2018.

John was a devoted husband, father and friend.

He will be dearly missed by those he left behind, including his wife of 47 years, Denise; sons and daughters-in-law, John Eckhardt III (Diel), Dale Eckhardt (Michelle) and Mathew Eckhardt (Tammy); daughter, Angela Haen; his sister, Betty Fredericksen; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

His sister Judy Gray preceded him in death.