Memorial bench installed to honor lives of Jake and Josh Eckstein
Jillian Fortner
(Update: Adding video)
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A new bench in Prineville now stands as a tribute to Jake and Josh Eckstein, two brothers whose lives were cut short in a tragic crash on Powell Butte Highway.
“As a parent, you can never imagine that you would be having a memorial bench, but we do,” said Phyllis Eckstein, mother of Jake and Josh.
In March 2019, the brothers were on their way to construction jobs in Prineville when their car hit black ice and slid into a tree.
They both worked in the trades together at Taylor Northwest.
Their parents, Scott and Phyllis Eckstein, installed a memorial bench to honor their sons, choosing a location that holds special meaning for their family.
“I can see Scott and I driving out here, maybe bringing in a picnic or something and just hanging out and kind of experiencing, you know, our boys out here,” said Phyllis Eckstein.
Behind the bench is where the boys were working at the time of their passing. The front overlooks the Ochoco Mountains where the family shared many memories.
“That’s where we spent many weekends camping with our boys, fishing, swimming in the lakes, hunting and riding motorcycles and just, you know, living life,” said Scott Eckstein, father of Jake and Josh.
Community members gathered to show their support for the bench installation, including recipients of the Jake and Josh Eckstein Memorial Trade Scholarship.
It was created to honor the brothers’ legacy by supporting young people pursuing careers in the trades.
Two-time scholarship recipient Owen Clark is thankful for the Ecksteins’ support over the years. He’s finishing welding school and preparing to enter the workforce.
“They’re great people full of love. I never knew their sons but I wish I did,” Owen Clark said.
Though the loss is still painful, the Ecksteins say it’s comforting to see Jake and Josh honored in a way that truly reflects who they were and how they lived their lives.
They’re thankful for the continued support from the community as they’ve navigated this tragedy over the years.