Obituary of Andrew Edmund Eckrote

Andrew Edmund Eckrote of Alexandria, Virginia passed away at home on March 13, 2024.

He was born October 25th, 1964, in Frankfurt, Germany the youngest child of Donald and Virgina Eckrote, of Annandale, Virginia and then Mrytle Beach, South Carolina.

He is survived by his two older brothers, Mark Eckrote (Peggy Kemmerly Eckrote) of Suwanee, Georgia and Michael Eckrote (Christy Blue Eckrote) of Prosper, Texas, as well as four nieces and a nephew.

The three Eckrote brothers grew up living and traveling overseas with their parents because their father, Donald Eckrote, was a U.S. government official stationed at U.S. Embassies in Europe.  Andrew attended elementary school at the “British School” in Helsinki, Finland and graduated from the American International High School in Vienna, Austria.  

Andrew loved to travel and explore other cultures and he had a gift for languages.  Andrew studied at the University of Virginia and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in German.  On his travels he spoke German, fit in easily, and could pass as a local at Viennese coffee shops and bars in Austria. At other times Andrew played up his status as an American tourist and initially spoke English but then eavesdropped on the conversations going on around him and surprised the locals when he chimed in with excellent German.

After college, Andrew worked in data analysis and accounting for Department of Defense contractors.  He took frequent breaks from his career for long vacations exploring America’s national parks and hiking trails.  Later in his life, Andrew developed a passion for photography and bird watching, particularly the bald eagles along the Potomac River near his home in Virginia.

Andrew had a quick wit and a great sense of humor.  He was always a welcome guest and fixture at Eckrote holidays and celebrations over the years.  He will be greatly missed by his two brothers, Mark and Michael, their spouses, Peggy and Christy and his 4 nieces, Jordan, Caroline, Kate, and Rachel and his nephew James.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Benedict Catholic Church, in Johns Creek, Georgia on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 11:30 a.m.  Following the funeral Mass, the Eckrote family will host a reception at the home of Mark and Peggy Eckrote in Suwanee, Georgia. Interment will be at Ocean Woods Cemetery in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at a future date.