Robert C. "Rob" Eckstein

Robert C. “Rob” Eckstein, 59, of Elkhart, Indiana, formerly of Ohio, passed away unexpectedly at Elkhart General Hospital on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

Rob was born on February 26, 1966, in Wooster, OH to Richard “Chris” & Constance “Connie” (Falleaf) Eckstein.

On February 22, 2013, Rob married the love of his life, Dana L. Canfield.  She survives along with two sons, Roman Eckstein of Elkhart and Blake “Xander” Canfield of Portland, OR and a daughter, Madison Canfield, also of Portland, OR.  Also surviving is his sister, Tara DeVore of Munroe Falls, OH, nieces Morgan (Kyle) Trainer of Green, OH, Mariah (Ben) McKinney of Stow, OH, Madisan (Curtis) Black of Kent, OH, his mother, Connie Falleaf of Bartlesville, OK and his father, Chris Eckstein of Wooster, OH.

Rob received his Bachelor of Arts in History and his Executive MBA in International Business from The Ohio State University.  He is also a veteran of the United States Army as Air Defense Team Chief, stationed with the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss Texas, and served in the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm in the early 90s.

Rob was a Business Unit Director at Patrick Industries, Inc. and cared deeply for his team members.  During his passionate career in manufacturing, which began in Osceola, IN, he spent 6 years in Shanghai, China before returning to Elkhart. 

Rob loved his life, his family, career and those around him. He lived large and loved fiercely. He will be missed by so many.

Memorial services for Rob will be held at the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 2:00 where visitation will be held beginning at 12:00. The Rev. Richard Kallenberg will officiate.  

Memorial contributions in memory of Rob may be made out to St John's Episcopal Church Food Pantry, address 226 W Lexington Ave, Elkhart, IN 46516. Please in the memo line of the check, simply write “in memory of Rob Eckstein”. He loved supporting the food pantry’s efforts to reach out to our community members in need through immediate and tangible ways.

Another way to honor Rob is to donate in his memory to an organization he loved, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, that provides mortgage free and adaptive housing to veterans and first responders and their families, by visiting their website at t2t.org.

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