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Remembering Anne; Local newspaper reporter, editor loved the community
FILE PHOTO Belvidere Republican Anne Eickstadt, a reporter and editor for the Belvidere Republican, gets ready to take photos.
Local reporter Anne Eickstadt died unexpectedly May 15. She was 66 years old.
Eickstadt loved the Belvidere community and for nearly a decade had worked as a reporter and editor for this newspaper.
Eickstadt started as a writer for Rock Valley Publishing, which publishes the Belvidere Republican, in June 2014. She served as a correspondent for the McHenry County area.
She was hired in January 2017 as the Belvidere Republican office manager. Since September 2017 she had worked in the news department serving as an editor and a reporter.
She was known around the newsroom as a caring, dependable and hard-working woman who enjoyed a challenge and loved being out on assignment.
Her loss stunned her coworkers and the community she worked in.
“Anne has worn many hats and was involved in many parts of publishing the news-paper being the face of the Belvidere Republican. She has been editor, reporter and helped coordinate the office answering questions about advertising, circulation and the news department. Anne has done it all. She will be greatly missed,” RVP Publisher Pete Cruger said.
“My heart breaks to lose this treasure!” said Pamela Lopez-Fetters of Growth Dimensions–Economic Development Belvidere & Boone County. “She was everywhere sharing positive stories, events, growth and organizational accomplishments. Anne put so much energy into volunteering and working in Boone County. So grateful to have had her friendship in my life.”
Community members and local organizations mourned Anne with memories and statements shared with the newspaper.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office released this statement: “A valued community member, strong sup-porter of law enforcement and member of the Belvidere Police Department’s Volunteer in Police Service. We thank you, Anne, for all of your support and service to the community.”
“It is with a heavy heart that the Belvidere Police Department learned of the sudden passing of a longtime member of the Volunteers in Police Service yesterday. Anne Eickstadt was a dedicated member of the VIPS and valued member of the community. Anne was so generous with her time and was always enthusiastic and a pleasure to be around. She will be greatly missed,” the police department stated.
“Anne always saw the good in the community. We appreciated her positive spin in a world that sometimes feels like it focuses on the negative. She will be missed at each and every community event, as she was somehow at all of them. Her dedication to Boone County is unrivaled and shined through in her articles in the Belvidere Daily Republican. Thank you to Anne for continuously caring so much,” the Belvidere Township Park District said in a statement.
“Anne was a wonderful person. She was always at every event we had and was our biggest supporter. She will be missed. Rest easy Anne,” Boone County Fire District 2 Firefighters Association stated.
“Anne Eickstadt, you will be missed. She was a kind soul that loved the Belvidere Fire Department, the Community of Belvidere, and Boone County,” the Belvidere Fire Department posted on Facebook. “As an editor of the BDR she never missed an opportunity to visit the fire department anytime we had a promotion, retirement or swearing in to take pictures and make sure the achievement was reported in the BDR.
“She would always make sure everyone had a piece of cake at our ceremonies and would cut it and personally hand it out! She also covered all our events and major incidents. Every Monday, we would send her a summary of our weekly calls so she could print them.
“She never missed an opportunity to volunteer to help the community. God Bless you Anne, and to Anne’s family we send our sincere condolences.”
Others remembered Anne for her dedication to the community.
“She will be missed,” said Amy Nord of the Belvidere Chamber of Commerce.
“She was a sweetheart! Always came to all the events at my Alpaca Farm. My son as well as I adored her! What a huge loss to our community!” said Vicki Glenn-Donley of Alpaca Pines Farm.
Melissa Mohr-Irwin of Boone County 4-H commented on Anne’s love of the community and Judy Benson Hodge of the University of Illinois Extension Office said “She will be missed!”
Much of Anne’s involvement in the community was based in her reporting and volunteer work.
“She came to our museum events. I always enjoyed her stories. She was always kind,” said Sonya Thompson Dobberfuhl, Belvidere Historic Preservation Society, Boone County Museum.
“Anne did the first piece on our food truck! She will be greatly missed!” Big Jon’s Dogs N More said in a re-leased statement.
Private family services will be held for Anne.
