Deborah Lynn (Vornkahl) Eckstein

Deborah "Debbie" Lynn Eckstein, 61, of Burlington, died at 3:30 PM Thursday, November 19, 2015, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.

Born March 7, 1954, in Fort Campbell, KY, she was the daughter of Earnest "Mel" and Ruth E. Losey Vornkahl. 

Debbie was a paralegal at the Walkup Law Firm in San Francisco, CA. Prior to that she was a registered nurse in the Neo Natal Unit of Summit Hospital in Oakland, CA.

She graduated from Keokuk Senior High School in 1972.   She attended St. Luke's Nursing School in Cedar Rapids and received her Bachelors Degree from St. Mary's College in Moraga, California and her paralegal certificate from California State University East Bay.

She was a life long learner and loved to learn new things.  She enjoyed quilting, reading, cross stitching, and playing games.  She loved to travel and recently traveled to Italy.  She enjoyed helping people. 

Survivors include her mother, Ruth E. Vornkahl of Burlington; one daughter, Emily Eckstein of Burlington; two sisters, Jan Vornkahl of Burlington and Susan Johnson of Burlington; a grandson due in February; two nephews, Grant Johnson of North Carolina and Wesley Johnson of Iowa City.

She was preceded in death by her father, grandparents, aunts, uncles and one cousin.

Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Prugh-Thielen Crematory.

The memorial service for Ms. Eckstein will be 1:00 PM Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at Prugh-Thielen Funeral Home with Reverend David Bracht-Wagner officiating.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be in Center Chapel Cemetery, Keosauqua, Iowa. 

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for Great River Hospice and Center Chapel Cemetery.