John Erick Eckstrom, 74, of Arlington Heights, died Friday in Northwest Community Healthcare Center. Mr. Eckstrom, a retired engineer for Carrier Corp., was born in Detroit. He lived in Arlington Heights for more than 32 years and held a U.S. patent for manufacturing equipment for making leather shoes for dolls. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and flew 131 combat missions during World War II. He was a member of the Tau Beta Pi (Engineering) Honor Society and the Pi Tau Sigma (Mechanical Engineering) Honor Society. He is survived by his wife, Deneige; a son, John Jr.; two daughters, Jill Eckstrom and Janice Stein; a sister; and six grandchildren. Services will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1234 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights.
