Meet your neighbor Jayne Eckhardt. Jayne lives in Durham. She is a proud graduate of Colusa High School’s Class of 1950.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Laura Wilhite, The Quill
Meet your neighbor Jayne Eckhardt. Jayne lives in Durham. She is a proud graduate of Colusa High School’s Class of 1950.
She worked as a nurse’s aide at La Harpe Hospital for two years while, Bob Eckhardt, served in France with the U.S. Army.
The two were married in 1953 and farmed together in Durham until Bob’s passing in 1996.
Jayne and Bob raised three children—Jill, Joyce, and Ned—all of whom have stayed close to their roots. Jill works at Iowa Children’s Services, and her husband, Jay Day, is a postman in Burlington.
Their son, Drake, earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and now works at Gator’s Restaurant in Burlington.
Joyce Stimpson is the Public Relations representative at Case, also in Burlington. Her son, Noah, has an Auto Tech Degree from SCC and is employed at Siemens.
Ned lives with Jayne and keeps busy trimming local cemeteries and helping area farmer. When the Eckhardts gather, there’s always a table full of smiles and plenty of Chinese food.
A cornerstone of Durham United Methodist Church, Jayne has been playing the piano and organ there since 1953. Her music has graced countless services, weddings, and community events over the decades.
Outside of church and family, Jayne is a whiz on the computer, especially when it comes to genealogy—researching both her own family tree and helping others with theirs.
She also finds joy in sewing, crocheting, and writing letters—keeping the lost art of handwritten notes alive and well.
For 21 years, Jayne and Bob led the Durham Dukes and Duchesses 4-H Club, shaping the lives of young people in the community with their time, wisdom, and heart.
In 2024, Jayne was honored for that dedication with her induction into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame—a moment she calls one of her proudest.