Eric Andrew Dekker Van Straten

Eric Andrew Dekker van Straten

9 December 1965 – 9 November 2021

“Rhinos are just fat unicorns.”

The best thing to ever happen to life partner Karri Emly of Broad Ripple

Devoted human to their calico cat and rescued Dutch shepherd

Goofball extraordinaire

A friendly Broad Ripple neighbor who spoke to everyone passing by

Cute little Dutch boy

Close friend to fellow Butler alums Rob Schwinn, Don Bow, James Carr, Deanna Larkin, Brad Gillum, and John “J T” Thomas

Avid reader and lover of sci-fi

Fan of art museums, outdoor street markets, and the North Sea

Phi Kappa Psi fraternity brother

First generation American born in Auburn, IN, to Dutch immigrants Ari and Tini

The tall man with beautiful blue eyes and sexy ankles

A coffee connoisseur

Former owner of Monon Technology Group, an IT consulting firm in Broad Ripple

Close friend to fellow IT geeks Steve Alexander and Fred Rappuhn

Secret admirer of kittens

Uncle to Abby Emly, Isaac Emly, Anneke van Straten, Diedre Matheny, Shelby Sipe, Josh Caldwell, Ashley Morris, Adam Devenney, and Thomas Caldwell

A generous man

Son-in-law to Faye and Hubert Emly

Nephew of Willa and John Blanton and Ruth Kelley

A huge music lover

Close friend to Jim Kukolla, a fellow Saturday morning breakfast guy

Taste tester of Karri’s low sugar baked goods

Owner of rude gnome and silly grotesque garden statues

Fan of all things Dutch, especially kibbling, Vermeer, and chocolate letters

Adventurous traveler

Admirer of flower gardens, especially his own

Quiet supporter of many charities, including the Ronald McDonald house

Karri’s human heat rock

Baby brother to “Brother John” van Straten, JoAnn Devenney, and an estranged sister

Co-steward of his and Karri’s Little Free Library

A foodie who loved freshly squeezed orange juice and sushi

Amateur photographer

One of nurse Clint’s favorite home hospice patients

A joy to his cancer care team

For those wishing to honor Eric, please donate to the Lustgarten Foundation, a non-profit supporting pancreatic cancer research, by visiting https://lustgarten.org/donate/