George Louis Donald Eichacker, 93, formerly of Keokuk, Fort Madison, and Iowa City, Iowa, a community leader and philanthropist, died peacefully on July 26, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his children and grandson at his side. George was born at home in the Amana Colonies in Homestead, Iowa, on March 9, 1930, to Charles A. and Marie G. Eichacker.
In 1948, George graduated from Amana High School as valedictorian. In February of 1951, he graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He was a Phi Beta Kappa Society member and received his master's degree in accounting in June 1952 from the University of Iowa.
In September of 1952, he was inducted into the Army, serving in the Quartermaster Corps and receiving the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged from active duty in September 1954 at the rank of sergeant and remained in the Inactive Reserve for six years.
Upon discharge from the Army, George returned home and worked for the Amana Society as an accountant in their main office, but as he describes the relationship, "I soon found out that they were not ready for me, nor I for them." He left the Amana Colonies in October 1955 to work for the McGladrey, Hansen, Dunn & Co. accounting firm, first in Burlington, then in Keokuk, Iowa. Shortly after, he passed the CPA exam, becoming the first Amana graduate to be a CPA. In June 1958, he was offered the position of Executive Secretary of the Keokuk Community Chest (now Big River United Way). In April 1962, he was offered a job with Keokuk Federal Savings and Loan as Secretary-Treasurer. He later became President (1982), then Chairman of the Board (1989) until his retirement in 2002, when he was named a Director Emeritus. During his forty-year tenure, he was responsible for converting the Savings and Loan to a bank, growing the bank's assets from 5 million to 120 million dollars, and joining a consortium of community banks under the umbrella of Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Although George's accomplishments in the banking industry were noteworthy, he devoted countless hours to causes he was passionate about. A 2008 KHQA news broadcast about George said, “he’s made a difference at the bank, but it's his philanthropy work that’s made him a legend." George firmly believed in giving back to the community with time and money. He served as the managing trustee of several private charitable foundations. However, his proudest accomplishment was founding the Keokuk Area Community Foundation Board in 2004. The foundation receives philanthropic gifts and grants from individuals, families, businesses, and corporations to establish permanent endowments for the benefit of Southeast Iowa, Western Illinois, and Northeast Missouri. Over the first ten years, the foundation’s assets increased to 5 million dollars. These last ten years have seen the managed assets grow to exceed 21 million dollars, allowing the foundation to contribute over 900,000 dollars to 159 area charities in the previous year. In 2007, the foundation named George as its first Director Emeritus in recognition of his role in the establishment of the foundation and created the Eichacker Award for Philanthropy, which honors an individual or family for their sustained and generous commitment to philanthropy, charitable giving, and volunteer service in the Tri-State Area.
George belonged to many organizations throughout his life, but his longest and most meaningful association was his sixty-six-year membership in Rotary International. He was inducted into the Keokuk Rotary Club on September 26, 1957, serving as President from 1969-1970. Over the years, when traveling, George attended over 300 Rotary meetings at thirty-five different clubs across the country and in Mexico. Besides Keokuk, he was also a member of the Iowa City and the Summerlin Las Vegas Rotary Clubs. In 2019, he was awarded his seventh Paul Harris Fellow pin, recognizing his continued financial support of The Rotary Foundation.
George was a member of the Keokuk Jaycees (President 1957-1958), Keokuk Junior Chamber of Commerce (President 1957-1958) (Distinguished Service award 1963), Executive Director United Way Keokuk 1958-1964, Keokuk Urban Development Commission (Chairman1966-1969), Keokuk Area Hospital Board of Directors (Chairman1983-1984), Regulatory Policy Committee of the US Savings and Loan League, Board of Directors of the Iowa Savings and Loan League, African American Museum of Iowa, President African American Museum Heritage Foundation.
George was a loyal Hawkeye fan and supporter of the University of Iowa. He supported the Tippie College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the University of Iowa Libraries, the University of Iowa Athletic Department and was a Hancher Partner. He was also a member of the University of Iowa's Foundation President's Club and the Founders Club of the Newman Catholic Student Center.
George was a member of the Episcopal Church and belonged to the following congregations during his life: St. John's Episcopal Church, Keokuk, IA; Trinity Episcopal Church, Iowa City, IA; and Grace in the Desert Episcopal Church, Las Vegas, NV.
He married Lois Ann Harper on April 27, 1969, in Fort Madison, Iowa, and enjoyed a beautiful marriage. They traveled, attended sporting events, the theater and church, debated politics, and thoroughly enjoyed each other, family, and friends.
Survivors include three children: Milton (Julie) Eichacker of Gilbert, AZ; Lois Eichacker of Chicago, IL; and Virginia Eichacker of Las Vegas, NV; one grandson, Kenton Eichacker of Las Vegas, NV; as well as ten nieces and nephews. His parents, wife, and brother Otto Eichacker preceded him in death.
Memorials have been established for the Keokuk Area Community Foundation and the Eichacker Community Center in Fort Madison, IA. Please make your gift payable to the Keokuk Area Community Foundation and send it to P.O. Box 367, Keokuk, Iowa 52632. Alternatively, you can make your donation to the Eichacker Community Center payable to Community Action of Southeast Iowa and send it to 2850 Mount Pleasant St, Suite 108, Burlington, IA 52601. Please note the Eichacker Memorial on your donations.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the Newman Catholic Student Center, 104 East Jefferson Street, Iowa City, IA 52245. There will be a luncheon following the memorial service, with details to be provided during the service.
