Debbie Eckstrand

With a warm, welcoming smile and genuine kindness, Debbie Eckstrand lived a life defined by curiosity, generosity, and unwavering faith. Debbie embodied the principles of her faith, leading with her heart in all things and never hesitating to serve others in need. Whether hosting a gathering, working on a project, digging into her family history, or cheering on her sons and husband, Debbie lived each moment to the fullest. An inspiration to all who were blessed to share time with her, Debbie will long be remembered and deeply missed.

Following a year of many changes, including the Civil Rights movement gathering momentum, the nation continued to invest in its goal of putting a man on the moon. 1962 found American homes filled with the sounds of the Beatles and the sense of loyalty inspired by their favorite dog, Lassie. Nowhere was there more hope for the future than in the hearts and home of William and Gloria (Spore) Sullivan as they welcomed their daughter Debbie to their family on January 5, in St. Charles, Illinois.

While growing up in St. Charles, Debbie enjoyed going to McDonald’s for a Coke and making friends at Lincoln Elementary that have lasted her lifetime. As a student at St. Charles High School, Debbie’s sweet personality led her to be friends with just about everybody. She earned good grades and enjoyed an active social life, with a small amount of mischief mixed in. She and her older sister, Kay, were quite close and once they used a fake ID to sneak Debbie into a bar. At the time, a photo was not included on the ID so admittedly it was a bit easier to get away with.

After graduating from high school, Debbie worked for Airfone, the company that developed the first phones installed in airplanes. Debbie was hired to help them create the interface between the phone and the radio towers. It proved to be the perfect job for her analytical prowess.

In time, Debbie moved to Michigan and began working as a contract programmer at Kellogg’s in Battle Creek. While looking over the company phone list, she was struck by another of the company’s contract programmer’s uncommon name, Garnet Eckstrand. When she and Garnet finally met, they quickly bonded over their mutual sense of humor.

After dating for a while, Debbie and Garnet knew they were destined to share the future. On May 12, 1990, they exchanged their marriage vows, officially beginning their 32-year adventure together. Upon marrying, they moved to Canada, where Debbie came to know Garnet’s family, strong Canadian farmers who lovingly welcomed her into their hearts and home. Their joy was magnified when their first son, Mac, was born while living in Canada.

After the family returned to West Michigan, Debbie and Garnet welcomed their son Mitchell. Debbie raised her sons to be generous with their time and kind and welcoming to people. She was a great cook and enjoyed following her mom’s recipes. Famous for her baking, the house always smelled like warm deserts fresh from the oven. Her apple crisp was especially unrivaled. A devout Catholic, Debbie never questioned her faith and raised her kids the same. Sometimes she engaged in a little bribery for her boys when they were little; if they were good in church, she’d take them out for breakfast afterward.

Very good at learning on the job and solving puzzles, Debbie worked for Kellogg’s and Pfizer as a programmer, helping implement new systems and convert handwritten recipes into digital systems for the computers. She and Garnet loved working puzzles together, and they frequently framed and displayed their finished projects around the house. Debbie also enjoyed creating stained glass and stamping to make elaborate Christmas and clever greeting cards.

A great team, Debbie and Garnet enjoyed entertaining and golfing together. They often gathered their friends around their tiki bar, where Debbie enjoyed hosting and strawberry daiquiris while Garnet entertained their guests. She and Garnet enjoyed golfing together, too, and Debbie also golfed in a women’s league. Her family fondly called her “Lefty” because left-handed golfers weren’t very common.

A Daughter of the American Revolution, Debbie spent many years carefully tracing her ancestry and even discovered a not-to-distant relation to Thomas Jefferson. Debbie didn’t just research her family history though; she lived and experienced it! During her travels to Ireland, she found the church where her great-grandparents were baptized and saw the church’s record book that her great-great-grandparents had signed. Finding her family history fascinated her; she was in awe. She loved talking to locals to learn more, and they were all too eager to meet at a local pub, often inviting Debbie back to their homes for more conversation.

A loving wife, mother, sister, and friend, Debbie’s legacy will be proudly carried forward by those she so dearly loved. In each moment we greet a stranger as a friend, welcome guests to our homes, cheer on our loved ones’ goals, explore our history, and stay curious, generous, and kind, we keep Debbie’s beautiful spirit alive and continuing to inspire others to always choose to live with faith, hope, and love.

Debora Eckstrand of Portage, age 64, died on March 5, 2026. Debbie was preceded in death by her husband, Garnet. Surviving are her children, Mac Eckstrand and Mitchell Eckstrand; her sister, Kay Mackay; her brother, Denny Sullivan; and many extended family members.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation on Wednesday, March 11, from 5-7 PM at Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral Homes, 60900 M40 Hwy, Paw Paw, (269) 657-3870. The Rosary will be recited at 4:30 PM. Mass will be celebrated Thursday, March 12, at 1 PM at St. Mary Church, Paw Paw. Burial at St. Mary Cemetery. Celebrate Debbie’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.