Eric Wendschlag, 36

Eric Wendschlag, 36, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Moapa, Nevada, on Wednesday, June 3, 2015.

Eric was born on Aug. 3, 1978, in Denver. As his family moved with work-related transfers, he lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Chicago, graduating from Naperville Central High School in 1996.

He attended Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, Colorado; it was there that he met his future wife, Dawn Michele. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Western State College of Colorado in Gunnison, Colorado.

Eric and Dawn were married in 2011 and became parents to their beautiful son, Zeke, in 2012. From 2011 to 2014, they lived in Columbia Falls. At the time of his death, he was living in Murrieta, California, where he was employed as a computer technician.

Eric was a kind and loving soul, filled with gifts of compassion, caring and an innate ability to reach out and teach others even when he and they did not know there was a lesson being given. Because of this, he touched many lives in ways that he did not know. He was also a gifted musician with an incredible ear, especially on the piano, where he could play anything from rock to Beethoven by ear without missing a note or a nuance. He also played drums and loved jamming with friends whenever the opportunity arose.  

Eric loved the mountains and thrived on their majesty, beauty and all activities they afforded him. He was an avid snowboarder, including six years as a snowboard instructor at Whitefish Mountain Resort. He was also a true cat lover, paint ball enthusiast, video gamer, Harry Potter fan and had a passion for motorcycles. He said on many occasions that the only way to really appreciate the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park was from the seat of a motorcycle.  

Eric loved his family, and he cherished Zeke. He was committed to be the best daddy in the world for Zeke and the times they shared were some of the most treasured and defining parts of Eric's life. He had so looked forward to watching Zeke grow to an age where he could share with Zeke the outdoor activities that he loved so much.

Eric will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Jan Wendschlag; and brother, Bryan Wendschlag; and his grandfathers, Ernest Wendschlag and Sherwood Monroe.

He is survived by his wife, Dawn Wendschlag; his son, Zeke Wendschlag; his parents, Dwight and Peggy Wendschlag; his grandmothers, Violet Wendschlag and Virginia Monroe; and an extended family that includes his in-laws, Cindi Miller and Jaclyn Miller; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; and countless friends whose lives he touched.

Eric's life will be celebrated in two memorial services. The first was held June 9 at Hope Lutheran Church in Temecula, California. The second will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 19, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 603 S. Main St., Kalispell.

Condolences can be shared on http://murrietavalleyfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/2165700/Wendschlag-Eric/index.php.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that funds be directed to provide for an education fund for Zeke. One vehicle for this is to designate funds to “College Access for the benefit of Zeke Wendschlag.”