Eric Daane Van Eck

Eric Daane Van Eck (73) of Moore, OK, passed into the Lord's Hands on Tuesday, August 9th, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was born October 2nd, 1948, in Ann Arbor, MI to Edward and Dorothy Van Eck. 

Eric spent his early childhood exploring the woods and waters of Lake Michigan with his Grandpa Muller. When he was nine, he moved to India with his parents and had many adventures. His time in boarding school there made him deeply independent. As a young man he served honorably as a Navy Medic during the Vietnam War. After his time in the Navy, Eric took up carpentry and worked in that field for twenty years. 

In 1985, Eric met and married the love of his life, Janice Stoddard. Together they raised his four sons from a previous marriage. Eric was an exceptionally loving father who often made sacrifices for his children - even sometimes going hungry to provide for them. He gave them the gifts of his time and emotional support. To his wife Janice he was equally loving and devoted. He pushed her outside her comfort zone to experience a more adventurous life and helped her manage her health care over the many decades they spent together. 

Inspired to provide a better life for his family, Eric eventually went to college and received his bachelor's degree in Biology. He went on to work for the Department of Natural Resources in Missouri for nineteen years before moving to Oklahoma to be close to his grandkids. 

A lifetime lover of the outdoors, he was an avid hunter. In his retirement he took great joy in training his deaf rescue dog, Trubel, to work as a therapy dog. The two volunteered at OU Hospital and Children's Hospital. When it sadly came time for him to stay at the hospital there were many friendly, familiar faces there helping to care for him.

Eric is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Dorothy Van Eck. He is survived by his wife Janice, his sons Anthony, Scott, Erik, and Nicholas, his eleven grandchildren Keaton, Kylie, Collin, Raynah, Raiden, Logan, Gabrielle, Taylor, Aubrey, Mollie, and Trent, his great-grandson Winter Clejal, his brother David Van Eck and sister-in-law Linda, nieces and nephews Sara Web and Jimmy Bert, Cara Morrison and Troy Van Eck.

Eric was a sweet, kind, loving husband, and devoted father who adored his family. He was an unwavering source of stability and loving support to them. He was funny, intelligent, and pursued many interests and hobbies over the course of his life. He will be forever loved.

Please join us for a celebration of his extraordinary life on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at 10am at John M. Ireland & Son Funeral Home & Chapel in Moore, OK. Eric hoped there would be more balloons than flowers at his remembrance and asked that any memorial donations be made to Alliance of Therapy Dogs, 1919 Morrie Avenue, Cheyenne WY, 82001.

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