Dika Eckersly, 75, of Lincoln, died Feb. 22 at her home. She was a successful book designer for the University of Nebraska Press.
Eckersley was born Dec. 5, 1939 in Stockholm, Sweden, to Carl and Lilian Lagercrantz. At the age of 22, she moved to England and attended the London College of Printing to study graphic design.
While in college, she met and later married fellow student Richard Eckersley. After working as a teacher and publication designer in England and Ireland, Eckersley and her family moved to Lincoln in 1981 to work for the NU Press.
She also served as a designer for Prairie Schooner, a literary magazine published quarterly at UNL.
In retirement, Eckersley enjoyed studying and global travel.
Eckersley was involved in numerous community organizations including the League of Women Voters, the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Wachiska Audubon Society, Flatwater Shakespeare, the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, the Friends of the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, and Tea and Talk, an international group serving women where she was program coordinator and host for more than 15 years. She also served on the board for Haydon Art Gallery, where she assisted in developing creative educational programs for children.
In 2013 she was honored with the Melba Cope Community Associate Award for her efforts in supporting women’s issues in the Lincoln community.
She is survived by her three children Nell, Camilla and Sam; son-in-law Jesse; daughter-in-law Courtney; brother Arvid; and four grandchildren, Reni, Sarah, Henry and Linnea.
A celebration of life ceremony is 5 to 8 p.m. June 1 at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum.
For more information, to share photos and memories of Eckersley, or to learn about donations in her memory, click here.
