I’m not exactly sure why I had the privilege of having such a good friend in Eric, but I truly did. I remember the exact time we first became friends. I believe it was 1st grade at the Jogathon. Eric and I ran next to each other for the entire event. By the end of that, I knew I had made a new friend. I could have never guessed all of the good times together yet to come. Growing up, Eric always towered over me, but I feel like our difference in height only made us closer. It was especially fun in CYO basketball when our goal would often be: “Get the ball to Eric by the hoop!” We would also play Knockout all the time at recess and Eric would be able to easily hit our balls out of the hoop. We had so much fun together at recess and PE doing various other games like kickball and dodgeball. Eric loved pulling pranks sometimes too. One time he created a fake “computer virus” that the teacher was convinced was real. We also had many memorable conversations during the countless times we ate lunch together at school. During one such lunch Eric was offered a super spicy pepper from Owen which he proceeded to eat. He got quiet all of a sudden, got up and walked over to the water fountain and stayed over there for the next few minutes getting a ton of water. Eric and I always had a lot of fun together. On certain occasions when we’d be outside going up a hill, he would lean on me with all of his weight as we were moving up the hill and I would try to see how much further up I could go. I would have to say one of my most memorable moments with Eric from grade school/middle school was when, after the 8th grade staff versus students volleyball match, he carried me around on his shoulders celebrating even though we lost the match.
We drifted apart during our high school years because we went to different schools. The few times we met up during those years were still memorable for their own reasons. One such occasion was we happened to both be in the same Confirmation class. My grandfather was my sponsor and during this ceremony, Eric and him were able to talk for a while. Eric left enough of an impact that my grandfather had to write him a letter afterward. One of the other times Eric and I ran into each other was when I was working at a movie theater. We said hello to each other in the hallway before he went into the movie. Now, there were a lot of other Sunset High School kids working with me. They saw me talking to Eric in the hallway and after that they were surprised that we knew each other. From what they told me, every one of them knew Eric at Sunset and all had positive things to say about him. Eric had a widespread impact and it didn’t seem to stop, people I met at Oregon State also knew him in high school and, again, really enjoyed their time with him.
It must have been fate what happened on the first day of our college lives. I never could have guessed that Eric and I would end up at the exact same college, in the same dorm, on the same floor. What seemed like random chance gave us an opportunity to reignite our friendship. My college experience was changed forever. At the end of our freshmen year we both needed roommates for our sophomore year and we spent the next three years living together from the dorms to a townhouse near campus. We had many good times together over these years. We would play word games back and forth that went on for way longer than they should have. Eric would introduce me to many new shows that we would sit down and watch together. We would have bets going as to how something that neither of us had seen yet would end. It became a running joke that I would always lose. Eric was almost always spot on in his predictions. One night I accidentally fell asleep on the couch and woke up in my bed. I went downstairs and saw Eric down there. I told him my confusion on how I got upstairs from last night. Turns out he had carried me upstairs. Yet another example of our difference in size.
Eric had amazing creativity. This was very apparent as kids when he would invent new games by having the players draw whatever they wanted and then battle it out. In college one night he had a crazy dream. In vivid detail he recounted how he was in another world on this amazing adventure. He had to put it down on paper. Over the next few weeks Eric’s creative talents were manifested in shaping this dream into a full length novel. He worked incredibly hard on this novel. I would leave for class and he would be working on it, come back hours later, he was still working on it. Eventually his first draft was done, but he wasn’t. He would go on to write two more full length novels to complete the trilogy over the next few months. Eric was a hard worker. When he switched majors in college he took the maximum amount of credits possible for many terms in a row even though that meant absurdly fast and dense classes sometimes condensed into four weeks. He maintained this same work ethic after college as well.
After college we took to our own pursuits until early this year when Eric reached out to me to go get lunch together. We would go over what we were up to with work, where everyone else was at and games and shows. It was really nice. I could tell through our conversations after college that he knew what he wanted and was motivated to get there. Our last conversation was at a McMenamins when he invited me to go get lunch with him in June this year. We told each other what we had coming up. For me, I had some big interviews coming up and Eric told me he was being trained to do all sorts of things and moving up quickly. Of course he was, being such a dedicated hard worker. The last memory I have of him is him rooting hard for my success.
Eric, we miss you so much. It’s so clear that we will always have a gap in our friend group that can never be filled. I was lucky to have such a kind, caring, and loyal friend. Eric told me that he was the last baby born in Iowa in 1997. Today is the day he would have turned 25. I may have been born two weeks before Eric, but he was like a big brother to me.
Eric told me when he was brainstorming titles for his book series one of his most liked ideas at the time was “In Lieu of Death” describing that death was not the end for the protagonist, but the beginning of a grand adventure. Eric, good luck to you on your own grand adventure, until we meet again!
Preview
Post Reply
Michael PhillipsPendingAwaiting Moderation
I coached Eric at Sunset High School. He was unforgettable with his stature and quiet demeanor. He was a good teammate and football player, bur you could always tell their was much more to him than just being a football player. His intelligence came through with an occasional dry, witty comment. Always unexpected. Most kids figure out at the end that it was really about the friendships and your commitment to them through good and bad. I am sure Eric knew this all along. He didn’t care for personal recognition and seemed embarrassed by it. He saw himself as a part of a group. He made a big impact with very few words. They all seemed important and exactly to the point.
Preview
Post Reply
JodiePendingAwaiting Moderation
I watched Eric grow up through the years since he moved to Oregon. He was such an imaginative kid, able to completely describe the environment of himself as a monster/dragon, I should have known then that he would become a writer. He was so good back then at creating and building things with Legos, I wasn't surprised he went into robotics later and I was certain he'd follow in his dad's path.
Eric helped me clean out my basement last year which included a couple trips to the dump. He told me what he wanted to do regarding research and making a difference. He was much quieter as an adult but when he said something, it was very insightful or funny with a dry wit. I saw then he was definitely forging his own path and that path was something to watch and be inspired.
Preview
Post Reply
AngelaPendingAwaiting Moderation
"Gentle giant" is such an apt nickname for Eric. I'll always remember that year of early school-day mornings, when Kari would drop Eric off at our house on her way down the hill, heading to work. Eric would wait quietly and patiently in the living room for my 2 boys to finish their breakfast and gather their things, until finally I herded them all out the door. I had a smallish Honda accord at the time, which wasn't exactly conducive for carpooling, but we managed. It brought a smile to my face each morning to witness Eric deftly fold himself into the front seat of that little car. He may have even had to hunch a bit so he head didn't rub against the ceiling. Every morning I would ask if he was OK, and this gentle giant who fully consumed every centimeter of the seat, the perimeter, and the floor space, would just say "yes". He'd ride to school like that every morning, and never utter a word of complaint. The fact he published a book, while quite impressive, didn't surprise anyone in my family. We all knew him as creative, wicked smart, tolerant, humble, and kind. God called you home far too early, Eric, but surely Heaven gained an angel.
Preview
Post Reply
Ann RyanPendingAwaiting Moderation
When Eric was in high school he won an art contest and I happen to be visiting at the time. I hadn’t talked to Eric much as he was growing up because he was always playing and active in sports. But now as this young adult, I asked him about his art and the contest and was blown away at the depth of his interest and his passion with art and writing. I was so happy to get to know this other side of him.
Preview
Post Reply
BarbPendingAwaiting Moderation
I remember babysitting Eric when he was about four. He wanted to watch a favorite movie but I could not figure out how to get the TV and VCR to work using the (3?) remotes available. Eric was undeterred – he had full confidence that I was going to make it work for the entire hour we tried. Every once in a while he would cheer me on with a sunny “you can do it”. I could not. But regardless, this is just a small, early example of Eric’s patient, kind, and steadfast nature.
Some other things that stood out early on were Eric’s love for animals and his sponge-like ability for trivia. Without a doubt, he knew everything there was to know about dinosaurs. It was always fun to see what Eric and Kari whipped up for his Halloween costume. Anything was possible with those two – a dinosaur of course, but also an elephant, a dragon, a jedi, a pirate, an ogre.
That experience was valuable when Eric had the urge to write an entire trilogy, get published, and make plans for when it would become a movie. Who has the energy and discipline to accomplish that just after graduating college? Our creative, gallant, and steadfast friend, Eric Engholm. We lost you much much too early; your legacy will remain large in our hearts.
Preview
Post Reply
EllisPendingAwaiting Moderation
I knew Eric through playing sports (football and wrestling) at sunset high school. Eric was very intimating as an athlete with his massive frame and towering stature but I quickly discovered he was the friendliest member of each team. In between practices or hanging out as a fellow big man we’d shoot the breeze talking about food and our dislike of conditioning. We would always strike up conversation about video games we liked and just normal dude stuff. Eric although soft spoken and quiet had quite a bit to say and a great sense of humor. I really looked forward to practice each day because I knew I’d get to hang out with Eric. I moved out of the state after graduation and always hoped I’d see Eric again. I’m deeply saddened to hear about him passing really wish I could’ve seen him again.
Preview
Post Reply
AbbeyPendingAwaiting Moderation
One of my favorite memories with Eric and his family was when they would come and visit us in Iowa. It was always a blast having them come down and stay with us for a week because at times, we would go a few years without seeing each other. I remember when we were younger, we would take day trips to Adventureland Park. Although we tended to gather many stares because Eric and his siblings were the tallest in the amusement park, it always made me feel pretty cool and special to have such awesome cousins. I will forever cherish the laughs and fun times we had together as a family. I miss you lots, Eric.
Preview
Post Reply
Christine AllenPendingAwaiting Moderation
I always remember Eric coming through the lunch line at St. Pius where I worked. Marsha and I would marvel at his height, and enjoy his sweet smile. That's how I always remember him. This sweet, kind, tall child. Kari told me at the time they estimated his height would be 6'7" and I marveled at the thought! I could always see Kari and Dennis in him with his kind demeanor and soft spoken words.
Preview
Post Reply
ColinPendingAwaiting Moderation
One of my favorite memories of Eric is when our families spent Christmas in Bend a few years ago. There was snow on the ground and we stayed in a cool little cabin style house. We played card games and board games, drank beer, and hung out in the hot tub. Around this time, Eric had been wearing a pair of shoes that I designed and he said that they were comfortable. I was so happy to hear this, knowing that it could generally be difficult finding footwear for his size that are comfortable! He was also quick to mention some feedback on the traction and how it could be better. I always loved Eric's honesty and openness, alongside his gentle manner.
Preview
Post Reply
MiaPendingAwaiting Moderation
Eric and I connected through our shared loved for creative writing. Getting to read Eric's book was such an honor and it truly felt like a doorway into his mind and his universe. While our writing subjects were different, I loved how Eric was more than happy to read my contemporary romance in contrast to his high fantasy adventure. That was the beautiful thing about Eric. He always made space for you. So patient, so kind, and full of integrity ♥
Preview
Post Reply
Jill HughesPendingAwaiting Moderation
We had a large family gathering and Eric and his cousins were all playing hide-and-seek in Grandma’s house. All the grown-ups were sitting around the kitchen table, talking. Eric came to his dad and was frustrated because he was too big to hide as well as the other kids. I suggested that he just sit at the table with the grown-ups, with his back to the door. The kids were paying no attention to us and would probably not notice an extra adult-sized person at the table. Eric’s brother, Matthew, was “it” and looked and looked and looked for Eric. Finally, Matthew came to the kitchen, stood right behind Eric’s chair, and told his dad that he couldn’t find Eric! It was all we could do to keep straight faces as Dennis suggested some places that Matthew might look. I’ll never forget the look on Eric’s face!
Preview
Post Reply
Kathy EngholmPendingAwaiting Moderation
During Eric’s high school years, I hired him a few times to help with outdoor work, like hauling bark mulch down a steep hill or digging a deep trench around the front porch, then filling it in with gravel. It was hard, sweaty work but he was a good workmate and kept at it without complaint until we were done. Cooking for Eric and his siblings was always a pleasure because they seemed to like everything they were served, eating every last bit, and asking, politely of course, for more.
Preview
Post Reply
DianePendingAwaiting Moderation
One of our favorite times with Eric and the Engholms was spending two weeks in Oregon one summer. We started in Portland, drove down the coast, and then circled over to Bend. The kids were pretty young yet so there was lots of rough-housing. Eric was so much bigger than the other kids that they would literally throw themselves on him and he'd casually pluck them off and set them down gently. Always with a smirk on his face. Gentle giant, indeed. We love you all!
I’m not exactly sure why I had the privilege of having such a good friend in Eric, but I truly did. I remember the exact time we first became friends. I believe it was 1st grade at the Jogathon. Eric and I ran next to each other for the entire event. By the end of that, I knew I had made a new friend. I could have never guessed all of the good times together yet to come. Growing up, Eric always towered over me, but I feel like our difference in height only made us closer. It was especially fun in CYO basketball when our goal would often be: “Get the ball to Eric by the hoop!” We would also play Knockout all the time at recess and Eric would be able to easily hit our balls out of the hoop. We had so much fun together at recess and PE doing various other games like kickball and dodgeball. Eric loved pulling pranks sometimes too. One time he created a fake “computer virus” that the teacher was convinced was real. We also had many memorable conversations during the countless times we ate lunch together at school. During one such lunch Eric was offered a super spicy pepper from Owen which he proceeded to eat. He got quiet all of a sudden, got up and walked over to the water fountain and stayed over there for the next few minutes getting a ton of water. Eric and I always had a lot of fun together. On certain occasions when we’d be outside going up a hill, he would lean on me with all of his weight as we were moving up the hill and I would try to see how much further up I could go. I would have to say one of my most memorable moments with Eric from grade school/middle school was when, after the 8th grade staff versus students volleyball match, he carried me around on his shoulders celebrating even though we lost the match.
We drifted apart during our high school years because we went to different schools. The few times we met up during those years were still memorable for their own reasons. One such occasion was we happened to both be in the same Confirmation class. My grandfather was my sponsor and during this ceremony, Eric and him were able to talk for a while. Eric left enough of an impact that my grandfather had to write him a letter afterward. One of the other times Eric and I ran into each other was when I was working at a movie theater. We said hello to each other in the hallway before he went into the movie. Now, there were a lot of other Sunset High School kids working with me. They saw me talking to Eric in the hallway and after that they were surprised that we knew each other. From what they told me, every one of them knew Eric at Sunset and all had positive things to say about him. Eric had a widespread impact and it didn’t seem to stop, people I met at Oregon State also knew him in high school and, again, really enjoyed their time with him.
It must have been fate what happened on the first day of our college lives. I never could have guessed that Eric and I would end up at the exact same college, in the same dorm, on the same floor. What seemed like random chance gave us an opportunity to reignite our friendship. My college experience was changed forever. At the end of our freshmen year we both needed roommates for our sophomore year and we spent the next three years living together from the dorms to a townhouse near campus. We had many good times together over these years. We would play word games back and forth that went on for way longer than they should have. Eric would introduce me to many new shows that we would sit down and watch together. We would have bets going as to how something that neither of us had seen yet would end. It became a running joke that I would always lose. Eric was almost always spot on in his predictions. One night I accidentally fell asleep on the couch and woke up in my bed. I went downstairs and saw Eric down there. I told him my confusion on how I got upstairs from last night. Turns out he had carried me upstairs. Yet another example of our difference in size.
Eric had amazing creativity. This was very apparent as kids when he would invent new games by having the players draw whatever they wanted and then battle it out. In college one night he had a crazy dream. In vivid detail he recounted how he was in another world on this amazing adventure. He had to put it down on paper. Over the next few weeks Eric’s creative talents were manifested in shaping this dream into a full length novel. He worked incredibly hard on this novel. I would leave for class and he would be working on it, come back hours later, he was still working on it. Eventually his first draft was done, but he wasn’t. He would go on to write two more full length novels to complete the trilogy over the next few months. Eric was a hard worker. When he switched majors in college he took the maximum amount of credits possible for many terms in a row even though that meant absurdly fast and dense classes sometimes condensed into four weeks. He maintained this same work ethic after college as well.
After college we took to our own pursuits until early this year when Eric reached out to me to go get lunch together. We would go over what we were up to with work, where everyone else was at and games and shows. It was really nice. I could tell through our conversations after college that he knew what he wanted and was motivated to get there. Our last conversation was at a McMenamins when he invited me to go get lunch with him in June this year. We told each other what we had coming up. For me, I had some big interviews coming up and Eric told me he was being trained to do all sorts of things and moving up quickly. Of course he was, being such a dedicated hard worker. The last memory I have of him is him rooting hard for my success.
Eric, we miss you so much. It’s so clear that we will always have a gap in our friend group that can never be filled. I was lucky to have such a kind, caring, and loyal friend. Eric told me that he was the last baby born in Iowa in 1997. Today is the day he would have turned 25. I may have been born two weeks before Eric, but he was like a big brother to me.
Eric told me when he was brainstorming titles for his book series one of his most liked ideas at the time was “In Lieu of Death” describing that death was not the end for the protagonist, but the beginning of a grand adventure. Eric, good luck to you on your own grand adventure, until we meet again!
I coached Eric at Sunset High School. He was unforgettable with his stature and quiet demeanor. He was a good teammate and football player, bur you could always tell their was much more to him than just being a football player. His intelligence came through with an occasional dry, witty comment. Always unexpected. Most kids figure out at the end that it was really about the friendships and your commitment to them through good and bad. I am sure Eric knew this all along. He didn’t care for personal recognition and seemed embarrassed by it. He saw himself as a part of a group. He made a big impact with very few words. They all seemed important and exactly to the point.
I watched Eric grow up through the years since he moved to Oregon. He was such an imaginative kid, able to completely describe the environment of himself as a monster/dragon, I should have known then that he would become a writer. He was so good back then at creating and building things with Legos, I wasn't surprised he went into robotics later and I was certain he'd follow in his dad's path.
Eric helped me clean out my basement last year which included a couple trips to the dump. He told me what he wanted to do regarding research and making a difference. He was much quieter as an adult but when he said something, it was very insightful or funny with a dry wit. I saw then he was definitely forging his own path and that path was something to watch and be inspired.
"Gentle giant" is such an apt nickname for Eric. I'll always remember that year of early school-day mornings, when Kari would drop Eric off at our house on her way down the hill, heading to work. Eric would wait quietly and patiently in the living room for my 2 boys to finish their breakfast and gather their things, until finally I herded them all out the door. I had a smallish Honda accord at the time, which wasn't exactly conducive for carpooling, but we managed. It brought a smile to my face each morning to witness Eric deftly fold himself into the front seat of that little car. He may have even had to hunch a bit so he head didn't rub against the ceiling. Every morning I would ask if he was OK, and this gentle giant who fully consumed every centimeter of the seat, the perimeter, and the floor space, would just say "yes". He'd ride to school like that every morning, and never utter a word of complaint. The fact he published a book, while quite impressive, didn't surprise anyone in my family. We all knew him as creative, wicked smart, tolerant, humble, and kind. God called you home far too early, Eric, but surely Heaven gained an angel.
When Eric was in high school he won an art contest and I happen to be visiting at the time. I hadn’t talked to Eric much as he was growing up because he was always playing and active in sports. But now as this young adult, I asked him about his art and the contest and was blown away at the depth of his interest and his passion with art and writing. I was so happy to get to know this other side of him.
I remember babysitting Eric when he was about four. He wanted to watch a favorite movie but I could not figure out how to get the TV and VCR to work using the (3?) remotes available. Eric was undeterred – he had full confidence that I was going to make it work for the entire hour we tried. Every once in a while he would cheer me on with a sunny “you can do it”. I could not. But regardless, this is just a small, early example of Eric’s patient, kind, and steadfast nature.
Some other things that stood out early on were Eric’s love for animals and his sponge-like ability for trivia. Without a doubt, he knew everything there was to know about dinosaurs. It was always fun to see what Eric and Kari whipped up for his Halloween costume. Anything was possible with those two – a dinosaur of course, but also an elephant, a dragon, a jedi, a pirate, an ogre.
That experience was valuable when Eric had the urge to write an entire trilogy, get published, and make plans for when it would become a movie. Who has the energy and discipline to accomplish that just after graduating college? Our creative, gallant, and steadfast friend, Eric Engholm. We lost you much much too early; your legacy will remain large in our hearts.
I knew Eric through playing sports (football and wrestling) at sunset high school. Eric was very intimating as an athlete with his massive frame and towering stature but I quickly discovered he was the friendliest member of each team. In between practices or hanging out as a fellow big man we’d shoot the breeze talking about food and our dislike of conditioning. We would always strike up conversation about video games we liked and just normal dude stuff. Eric although soft spoken and quiet had quite a bit to say and a great sense of humor. I really looked forward to practice each day because I knew I’d get to hang out with Eric. I moved out of the state after graduation and always hoped I’d see Eric again. I’m deeply saddened to hear about him passing really wish I could’ve seen him again.
One of my favorite memories with Eric and his family was when they would come and visit us in Iowa. It was always a blast having them come down and stay with us for a week because at times, we would go a few years without seeing each other. I remember when we were younger, we would take day trips to Adventureland Park. Although we tended to gather many stares because Eric and his siblings were the tallest in the amusement park, it always made me feel pretty cool and special to have such awesome cousins. I will forever cherish the laughs and fun times we had together as a family. I miss you lots, Eric.
I always remember Eric coming through the lunch line at St. Pius where I worked. Marsha and I would marvel at his height, and enjoy his sweet smile. That's how I always remember him. This sweet, kind, tall child. Kari told me at the time they estimated his height would be 6'7" and I marveled at the thought! I could always see Kari and Dennis in him with his kind demeanor and soft spoken words.
One of my favorite memories of Eric is when our families spent Christmas in Bend a few years ago. There was snow on the ground and we stayed in a cool little cabin style house. We played card games and board games, drank beer, and hung out in the hot tub. Around this time, Eric had been wearing a pair of shoes that I designed and he said that they were comfortable. I was so happy to hear this, knowing that it could generally be difficult finding footwear for his size that are comfortable! He was also quick to mention some feedback on the traction and how it could be better. I always loved Eric's honesty and openness, alongside his gentle manner.
Eric and I connected through our shared loved for creative writing. Getting to read Eric's book was such an honor and it truly felt like a doorway into his mind and his universe. While our writing subjects were different, I loved how Eric was more than happy to read my contemporary romance in contrast to his high fantasy adventure. That was the beautiful thing about Eric. He always made space for you. So patient, so kind, and full of integrity ♥
We had a large family gathering and Eric and his cousins were all playing hide-and-seek in Grandma’s house. All the grown-ups were sitting around the kitchen table, talking. Eric came to his dad and was frustrated because he was too big to hide as well as the other kids. I suggested that he just sit at the table with the grown-ups, with his back to the door. The kids were paying no attention to us and would probably not notice an extra adult-sized person at the table. Eric’s brother, Matthew, was “it” and looked and looked and looked for Eric. Finally, Matthew came to the kitchen, stood right behind Eric’s chair, and told his dad that he couldn’t find Eric! It was all we could do to keep straight faces as Dennis suggested some places that Matthew might look. I’ll never forget the look on Eric’s face!
During Eric’s high school years, I hired him a few times to help with outdoor work, like hauling bark mulch down a steep hill or digging a deep trench around the front porch, then filling it in with gravel. It was hard, sweaty work but he was a good workmate and kept at it without complaint until we were done.
Cooking for Eric and his siblings was always a pleasure because they seemed to like everything they were served, eating every last bit, and asking, politely of course, for more.
One of our favorite times with Eric and the Engholms was spending two weeks in Oregon one summer. We started in Portland, drove down the coast, and then circled over to Bend. The kids were pretty young yet so there was lots of rough-housing. Eric was so much bigger than the other kids that they would literally throw themselves on him and he'd casually pluck them off and set them down gently. Always with a smirk on his face. Gentle giant, indeed. We love you all!