Eric Robert DeBoer, 37, of Tucker, Georgia, died on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. He was born on Jan. 29, 1980 in Lynden, a son of Randy and Jan (VanDam) DeBoer. He attended Lynden Christian Schools, graduating from high school in 1998 and then from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2002. After graduation he returned to Washington for a job, then later took a promotion that moved him to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2005. He met his wife, Candice, in 2008 and they were married in 2011. In 2014 they welcomed their only daughter, Emilie. Eric was a member of Peachtree Presbyterian Church and a beloved restaurant manager at Pasta da Pulcinella in Midtown.
Eric’s personality and charm were captivating. He was a friend to everyone he met. Eric always looked for the good in people and put others before himself. He was blessed with many true genuine friendships in every stage of his life. He valued every one of those friends as if they were his best friend. Everyone remembers Eric for his welcoming smile, piercing blue eyes and his positive outlook on all situations. Eric did not lose to cancer. He lived every day to the fullest and faced his illness with optimism and hope.
He is survived by his wife Candice and daughter Emilie of Tucker, Georgia; his mother, Jan DeBoer, of Lynden; paternal grandparents Robert and Oveta DeBoer of Denver; his brother Matt (Lisa) DeBoer of Denver; and his sister Andrea (Jordan) Bahr of Snoqualmie, Washington. He was a proud uncle to Luke, Elin, Judah and Jansen.
He was preceded in death by his father, Randy DeBoer, of Lynden, in 2004.
Eric’s memorial service was on Sunday, Aug. 20, in Peachtree Presbyterian Church’s Kellett Chapel in Atlanta. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery of Denver.
In lieu of flowers Eric requested that donations be made to the family’s Crowdrise fundraiser to help pay for expenses or to the The Giving Kitchen, a charity that offered his family assistance during his illness. The links are: https://www.crowdrise.com/deboerfamilyfund/fundraiser/sarahrindfleisch and https://thegivingkitchen.org/want-to-help/.
Arrangements were by Bill Head Funeral Homes & Crematory, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel, (770) 564-2726.
