Eckhardt “Eck” Ullrich was born on July 9, 1947, in Coppenbrügge, Germany. His early years took him from Germany to Salzburg, and then at age 9, to the U.S. on a long boat ride that cemented his lifelong dislike of Neapolitan ice cream (let’s just say it was a rough crossing)! He spent many years in Southern California before settling in Kent, WA, where he raised his family and built lasting friendships. Eck studied Mechanical Engineering and joined Flow Waterjet in 1978, where he quickly became known as a Waterjet Master. His ability to organize complex problems and think outside the box led him to work on some of the most innovative and challenging projects in the early days of waterjet technology. (Read more here.) One of his favorite uses of the waterjet was cutting metal keychain names for just about everyone he met—family, friends, clients, nurses, resort staff in Mexico... if you knew Eck, chances are you got one. After retiring from Flow in 2015, Eck continued consulting in the industry, but his creativity really took off through metal art. With his home waterjet, he launched a small business creating custom pieces, though more often than not, he made art just for fun and loved giving it away. He donated work to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) annual auctions and partnered with Make-A-Wish to help make a young boy’s dream of having an Army barracks come true. Beyond his work and artistry, Eck was a master at bringing people together. He started a golf league at Flow nearly 40 years ago that’s still going strong today and will now be renamed “The Eck League” in his honor. Whether it was golf, a bowling night, a backyard BBQ, or a crawfish boil, Eck was at the center of it. He was an incredible cook, learning by watching his mother prepare traditional German meals. And no good meal was complete without a shared “digestif” of fine scotch around the table. He also loved the outdoors—whether it was scuba diving (a passion he shared with his grandsons just last year), camping, or heading out with Holly to forage for chanterelle mushrooms and kayak for crabs. Eck passed away on October 12, 2025, after a brave five-year battle with cancer. Diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020 and later with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2024, he never stopped fighting. Thanks to clinical trials through Fred Hutchinson and UW Medical Center, Eck was fortunate to have an extraordinary medical team who were amazed as he continued to beat the odds. He had great respect for his doctors and nurses, and in turn, they gave him the best care possible. Throughout his treatment, he enthusiastically volunteered to provide guidance and compassion to other newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients as part of a “survivor to survivor” support network. Eck is survived by his loving wife, Holly; sons Eric Ullrich and Kevin (Amy) Ullrich; stepson Ian (Amanda) Barr; grandchildren Gavin, Greyson, Logan, and Isla; brother Peter (Ann) Ullrich; niece Christine (Todd) Grunberger; great nephew William and great niece Abigail. Eck lived simply and honestly—what you saw was what you got. He was a man who cared deeply about people. An innovator. A problem solver. A leader. A beloved husband, father, friend and maybe most proudly, Opa. His ingenuity and kindness left a mark on everyone lucky enough to know him. He defined altruism – compassion in action. We’ll be celebrating Eck’s life on Saturday, November 1, from 2:00–6:00 p.m. at The Barn at Wilson Farm (1425 210th Ave E, Lake Tapps, WA 98391). Casual attire encouraged, dress warm (layers recommended).