James Eklund

GRAPEVINE -- James Bernard Eklund, 76, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. Funeral: 1 p.m. Saturday at Living Word Lutheran Church, 2031 Northwest Highway, Grapevine. Interment: Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Lucas in Grapevine. Memorials: Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Living Word Lutheran Church or Meals on Wheels-Grapevine. Jim was born Aug. 7, 1936, in St. Paul, Minn. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1954. He married the love of his life, Bernes "Bunny" Gerber, in October 1957, and they had three children. He worked in an elevator manufacturing plant in Minnesota and moved up the ranks to salesman. In 1973, the company sent Jim to Odessa to start a new elevator plant. Later, Jim moved his family to Grapevine, where he started his own elevator company, Eklunds Inc., which is still family-owned and operated. In Grapevine, Jim helped establish the Elks Lodge of Grapevine and served as exalted ruler in 1988-89. After retiring, Jim split his time between Grapevine and his property near Saint Jo. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Kermit Eklund and Lona Musil. Survivors: Wife, Bunny Eklund; son, Brad Eklund; daughters, Beth Cunningham and husband, Bobby, and Brenda McClure and husband, Gary; grandchildren, Michael Eklund and wife, Kristin, Joseph Eklund and wife, Olivia, Heather Maddux and husband, Dustin, Heath Cunningham and wife, Lindsey, Rachel McClure and Hannah McClure; great-grandchildren, Nadia and Aidan Eklund; and brother, Dwaine Eklund and wife, Shirley.