Douglas "Doug" Kennedy Eckel

A celebration of life is being held in memory of Doug, details below.

DOUGLAS KENNEDY ECKEL February 28, 1933 - June 20, 2020 Passed away in London, Ontario.  Beloved husband of Yvonne Eckel for over 60 years.  Loving father of Bryan (Deb) Eckel, Suzanne (John) Conroy, Tracie (Michael) Ward and Lance (Cristen) Eckel.  Dear grandfather of Stephanie (Nick), Talia (Matt) and Reed Eckel, Christian (Rachel) and Corbet Conroy, Connor and Emily Ward, Julia and Nathan Eckel.  Dear great-grandfather of Ethan Coleman and Leo Clifford Conroy.  Beloved brother-in-law of Phillis Eckel (Toronto), cousins Sharon (Ken) Smith (Woodstock) and David (Peggy) Kennedy (Orillia).  Caring and considerate uncle to many beloved nephews and nieces in Hamilton, Ottawa, Toronto and Waterloo.  

Doug was born in Tillsonburg, Ontario, graduated from McMaster University in 1956 and became a chartered accountant in 1960 after articling in Toronto.   He joined the predecessor firm to BDO Dunwoody Chartered Accountants in 1961 and was the founding and managing partner of both the Woodstock office (1961-1976) and Brantford office (1977-1996).  In 1968, he was selected by the Ontario Jaycees as one of the ten “Outstanding Young Men of the Year” in the province.   In 1973, he was one of the youngest in history to be named a “Fellow” of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, his life was largely defined by community service.  Among the roles he held across various local, regional and national organizations, he served as President of the Woodstock Family YMCA, the Brantford YM-YWCA, the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of Brantford, the Oxford Golf and Country Club, the Rotary Club of Woodstock – Oxford, and the Probus Club of Brantford.  He was also actively involved with Fanshawe College, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, and the Brantford Club.

He and Yvonne were significant contributors to various charities in Woodstock and the surrounding area.   Major contributions were made in their lifetimes to the Woodstock Art Gallery, the Woodstock Community Centre, local area YMCAs, St. David’s United Church, the Woodstock Soccer Club and the Woodstock Little Theatre. 

He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed fishing, sailing, cycling, canoeing, rafting, skiing, trekking and tennis.   Each summer, Doug, Yvonne and their children vacationed at Geneva Park on the shores of Lake Couchiching near Orillia, Ontario

He and Yvonne were also avid global travellers – especially following his retirement in 1996 – and enjoyed learning about and experiencing different cultures.   He had travelled to all seven continents, trekked in the Everest region of Nepal, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, hiked the Inca Trail and through Patagonia, canoed the Nahanni River in the Yukon, as well as having sailed, fished and biked in many places around the world.

Doug was a founding and lifelong member of St. David’s United Church in Woodstock.  He was active in church life and contributed to its growth and vitality over more than 50 years.

Doug shared many friendships through his professional and personal interests.  He and Yvonne were beloved by both friends and family and enriched the lives of the many people that knew them.

A great conversationalist, he will be dearly missed by his children, grandchildren, other family members and friends.

Cremation has taken place and a private family service was held on June 27, 2020.   A celebration of Doug's extraordinary life will be held at the Elm Hurst Inn & Spa,- Carriage House, 415 Harris St, Ingersoll, on Saturday, November 12th, 2022, from 10:30 to 12:30 with the memorial service taking place at 1:00 pm. If desired, memorial contributions can be made to the Oxford Community Foundation - Doug and Yvonne Eckel Fund. Most can be made through the Brock and Visser Funeral Home, 845 Devonshire Avenue, Woodstock, Ontario N4S 5Z4 (519-539-0004). Personal online condolences can be left at www.brockandvisserfuneralhome.com

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