Vale Milton Eckermann: A tribute from Lutheran Services

✝️ In Memoriam: Milton Eckermann, 12/11/45 – 18/7/25 ✝️

Milton Eckermann was the founding Coordinator of Lutheran Community Care, established in the late 1990s by the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District. Lutheran Community Care (now Lutheran Services) was created to support and unify the Church’s aged care and community services, ensuring the vision of local congregations could continue to thrive amid growing regulatory and market challenges.

Milton brought valuable experience to the role, having served as Administrator of Tabeel Aged Care in Laidley in the early 1990s. Recruited by Pastor Eric Liebelt, Milton and Pastor Liebelt would go on to play pivotal roles in shaping what would become Lutheran Services.

When the organisation officially launched in 1999, Milton took on the task of coordinating and centralising services across Queensland. For 12 years, he led with humility and determination, always focused on people. His vision was simple yet profound: to get all committees to work together, to understand where people’s lives are at, whilst encouraging staff to understand they are not here for the job but for the people.

Today, Lutheran Services supports over 6,000 people each year, a legacy that began with Milton and a part-time assistant in a Brisbane office. Earlier this year, we were honoured to welcome Milton back to our Support Centre – his presence a powerful reminder of our purpose – we exist to serve.

Milton’s leadership will continue to inspire our 2,200+ staff. In our recent conversations, he reflected with gratitude on his life of service within the church spanning from Adelaide to central Australia to far north Queensland, including his role with Lutheran Community Care.

Milton was passionate about working with congregations and expressed how important it was to share who we are and why we are here.

We carry forward his legacy with pride and humility, committed to ensuring Lutheran Services remains a vital expression of the Church’s mission. We are forever grateful for the work of Milton Eckermann – his leadership, his determination, his passion – and we honour his memory with deep respect.

Click here for details of Milton Eckermann’s upcoming Celebration of Life on 9 August 2025.