Nathan Andrew Eckerman's Obituary
Nathan Andrew Eckerman, age 46, passed away unexpectedly on December 13, 2025. Born in Muskegon on September 7th, 1979, Nathan graduated from Muskegon High School in 2000. He lived his life with boundless energy, a contagious smile, and a joy that inspired everyone around him. Always a hard worker, Nathan cheerfully dove into any chore, anywhere, making it fun, using his knack for turning ordinary moments into highlights.
Nathan loved greeting everyone warmly—whether at a family party, at Wendy’s, his job for 3 years, or simply to passersby he met in his daily routines. He took pride in looking his best; he was an “Awesome Guy,” just ask him. He loved dancing and singing to his favorite music, spending many summer evenings on the back porch, sitting on the swing with his boom box, singing songs as loudly as he could—even though he couldn’t carry a tune—without a care in the world, simply enjoying the moment. Once, while washing dishes at the Double JJ, he heard music from a wedding reception, dropped the dishes, and—though he didn’t know anyone and wasn’t invited—joined in and danced along to “YMCA”.
Nathan loved bowling, and while bowling with the Goodwillies Bowling League would bow grandly to the entire bowling alley after throwing a strike. Nathan was very patriotic, loved anything red, white, and blue, was proud of his Stars and Stripes bowling ball, and the American flag always displayed prominently just outside the porch door. When he sang “Proud To Be An American,” he meant it. A lover of sports, especially football, his bedroom was decorated in “Michigan State”, and Nate often wore one of the many MSU shirts hanging in his closet. He lived his life every day like it was the championship, celebrating every victory, big or small. Nathan enjoyed riding his bike all over the neighborhood and to his job at Wendy’s, waving to the many people he knew that passed him on Henry Street. He loved attending weekly Friendship Ministry meetings at Calvin Christian Reformed Church, going to church camp every summer, and traveling with his family in their 5th wheel to all 4 corners of this great country.
Nathan leaves behind his parents, Linda and Bruce Eckerman, his brothers James (Leigh) and Brent, his nieces Madeline and Elizabeth Eckerman, and his nephew Alexander Eckerman.
A celebration of Nathan’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Lake Harbor United Methodist Church, 4861 Henry St, in Norton Shores. Nathan would feel honored if attendees wore an MSU shirt or other green attire.
There will be a family visitation time before the Saturday service at 10:00 AM. A luncheon will be served at the church immediately after the service at 12:00 noon.
In that two of Nathan’s favorite activities were bowling with the Goodwillies, and attending weekly Friendship Ministry meetings, in lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Nathan’s memory by donating to one of these causes.
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