Eric Erickson

Staff
Posted 6/10/21

Eric Erickson, 66, peacefully passed away Thursday, June 10, 2021 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. Eric was born on Dec. 2, 1954 to Robert and Elizabeth (Follett) Erickson in Winfield. On June 16, 1989, he married his best friend, Nancy Paul in Rockton.

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Eric Erickson

Posted

ROCKFORD — Eric Erickson, 66, peacefully passed away Thursday, June 10, 2021 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.  Eric was born on Dec. 2, 1954 to Robert and Elizabeth (Follett) Erickson in Winfield. On June 16, 1989, he married his best friend, Nancy Paul in Rockton.

Eric is survived by his wife of 31 years, Nancy of Steward; His 14 Children: Jennifer (Glenn) Schnetzinger of Springdale, AR, Paul (Melissa) Erickson of Belvidere, Maria Erickson of Rochelle, Vladimir (Maria Mandujano) Erickson of Ashton, Tatyanna Erickson of Columbus, Ohio, Adam Paul of Steward, Eric (Alyssa) Paul of Rochelle, Veronika (Alex Bunger) Erickson of Bloomington, Leif Erickson of Rochelle, Anna (Gareth) Booth of Elkins, Arkansas, Alexei Erickson of Steward, Gabriella Erickson, Izzy Erickson and Mauri Erickson all of Steward: brothers & sisters;  and his 16 grandchildren.

Eric will be missed dearly by so many.  He never met a stranger & would happily shoot the breeze with anyone who wanted to slow down & talk about things.  He loved hunting for & collecting treasures throughout his life at pawn shops, auctions, antique stores..if it looked like there might be a rusty treasure he had to stop! He shared his life-long passion for tinkering with cars & motorcycles with his children taking them to countless car shows & trying to teach them all he knew.  He found great humor in particular for the spark plug lesson...just hold this right here!! followed by "ERIC ROBERT!!" There wasn't anything he couldn't fix or anyone he wouldn't help. His generosity & kindness were without limits.

More than anything he loved his family.  He was lucky to have found his soulmate and shared his great life & adventures with her, their kids & grandkids.  One of his greatest accomplishments was being truly the best Gramps! He was a baby whisperer extraordinaire, he had endless patience, energy & love for the littles!  He had them always laughing with his shenanigans! He would boogey down on the dance floor with them (or anyone else for that matter) until they could dance no more!

We will miss hearing “ERIC ROBERT" called out, his amazing hugs, his vulcan death grip shoulder thingy, his laughter, his stories, his generosity & love...and so much more. He was a man who measured his wealth not by income but by how happy & healthy his family was. He was our Rock & our Best Friend.  We are sad he is gone but take great comfort in how happy he & our beloved Katherine are to be together again! He will be loved & missed forever.

In addition to his parents, Eric was preceded in death by his daughter, Katherine Jill-Rose on June 14, 2019.

There will be a memorial visitation Sunday, June 13, 2021 from 3-5 p.m. at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th St., Rochelle.  Memorials may be made to the family.  Cremation care has been provided by the Unger-Horner Funeral Home in Rochelle.  Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.