Gregory E. Eichelman

Gregory E. Eichelman

Entered the Church Triumphant December 19,2016

Greg was born in Springfield, Ohio on July 4, 1957, the son of Gail E. and Geraldine (Jacoby) Eichelman. During his pre-school years, he thought that all fireworks displays were for his birthday. Greg-an "all-in" individual - graduated from Shawnee High School. He relished those years when he was the Shawnee Mascot wearing his Indian Chiefs uniform and running through the band with his burning spear, and planting it on the "fifty-yard line", at football game halftime performances. He then changed to his trumpet, which he enjoyed so much as the lead trumpeter in the Shawnee Band. As a very good golfer, with many individual awards, Greg led his Shawnee Golf Team to high school "finals" at the Scarlet and Gray OSU golf course. Greg always worked hard and played equally hard. He was a very compassionate and giving person, that lived a strong God "based" life. He cherished his time on the water fishing and in the woods hunting. He graduated from Ohio University in 1975.

Greg found his life calling in construction work. After working for several construction material supply companies and managing a company in Davenport, Iowa, he returned to Springfield to "try his hand" at the "hard stuff'. He elected to establish his own construction company and completed many housing projects in the process. However, he soon decided that the "outside work" was not really for him and built on his early experience base to enter the commercial building construction industry, as a Project Manager. As his opportunities increased, his knowledge of construction materials, unique architectural designs and building methods became apparent and he was increasingly involved in proposal cost estimating of major facilities. In California, Louisiana and Texas, his accomplishments included several large shopping malls; separate "out" buildings for "anchor" stores and food facilities, as well as mountain resort complexes. During his employment in California as Chief Estimator, he was especially proud of his success underbidding the competition for large high - rise buildings, as well as facilities for several US Army and Navy bases. Greg developed a method of pricing subcontractor work that resulted in many winning bids. His understanding of the west’s earthquake building requirements and the south's wet sands as critical and peculiar to multi-story concrete construction, proved to be a vital capability in his advancement. During his career he lead several corporate proposal ''wins" of buildings at Louisiana State University, as well as a re-building of the athletic trade. Ultimately, Greg returned to Springfield, and was Senior Estimator for the EXXCEL Corporation of Columbus, performing cost winning estimates for - among others - a mall reconstruction in Titusville, FL

Greg is survived by his mother, Geraldine Stafford of Friendswood, TX; father; Gail of Springfield; daughter Elizabeth Eichelman of Cincinnati, OH; sister Gwen Minnick of Springfield; niece Andrea Davis, her husband Chris, and their daughter Jessica and son Tristen of Friendswood, Texas. Visitation will be Thursday, December 29, 2016 from 11 AM – 1 PM in the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. The service to honor Greg’s life will be Thursday at 1:00 PM. in the Church with Pastor Daniel Powell officiating. Burial will follow in Ferncliff Cemetery. The family is being served by RICHARDS, RAFF & DUNBAR MEMORIAL HOME. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.richardsraffanddunbar.com.