Lloyd and Arnetta Eckes and their seven children started the Lloyd and Arnetta Eckes Family Endowment Fund in honor and memory of all former employees of the Chippewa Shoe Factory, one of Chippewa Falls' largest manufacturing employers from 1901-1984. Lloyd relocated his family to the city in 1953 when he accepted the position of plant superintendent and was proud of the quality of work he and his team produced. 

Grants from this fund are directed in equal parts to the Irvine Park Endowment Fund for park improvements and to the William Irvine Endowment Fund for maintenance of the park by the Chippewa Falls Department of Recreation, Parks and Forestry.

According to the couple's children, their parents were deeply proud of their community and amazed that a city, the modest size of Chippewa Falls, was able to maintain such a remarkable park for its citizens. Lloyd and Arnetta also placed strong values on home and family. As a result, they spent a lot of time with their children in Irvine Park over the years.

"Lloyd always said he worked with such wonderful employees and that people in the Chippewa Falls area were so friendly and kind," said the couple's son, Jerre Eckes, regarding his parents' desire to establish this fund.