Eric Roycraft

Eric Roycraft - Obituary written by his mom - 50 years ago you were tucked safely inside my womb protected and nurtured where all your needs and wants were provided; my first gift to you. On July 8, 1971 at 8:08 a.m. in Appleton, Wisconsin you came unassuming into the world. Born to Dennis and Vivian, two very young parents who were totally unaware of the beautiful and yet unconventional soul they had created. From the day you were born you were surrounded by the love of your Grandpa and Grandma DeLaHunt and your aunts and uncles in the DeLaHunt household. You were intelligent, introspective, curious, inquisitive, and sensitive. Growing up, attending school in Kaukauna, you tried everything: baseball, football, track, powerlifting, musicals and plays, student council, math team, science camp and space camp. You devoured books and found writing to be a satisfying outlet for your creativity. And yet you always found the most pleasure from the natural world and the wonders of science. You were intrigued by how things worked and what they were made of. Your mind never stopped wondering. All of these interests served you well later in life when you pursued and completed your degree at UWGB and began your professional career at Clean Water as their lab manager. You fit lots of life into your 49 years, pharmacy school, driving truck, landscaping, earning a chemistry degree and becoming a lab manager. You were fortunate to have met and shared life with some amazing women all who played a part in shaping your life. You experienced great loss and veered off course, but always managed to get back on track, using your life lessons to propel yourself forward. You lived in a continuous state of gratitude throughout your life's journey. It is not surprising that you were so proud and passionate about being part of the Charitable Giving Committee at work where you were involved in the process of choosing organizations to support. It gave you great joy to give to others. You loved spending time with your family, working in your garden, watching Touched by an Angel (thinking maybe that is what you would have liked to do, help someone and then move on), meditating in the field, taking long hikes, visiting waterfalls and lakes, working out, running, cooking all your meals from scratch, going to the Green Bay Farmers' Market with a stop at Fresh Thyme and Woodman's, checking out coffee shops, papaya salad and spicy food. The list of your interests also included crystals, reading about new scientific discoveries, PBS, books about spirituality, and engaging in deep conversations. You could talk to anybody about anything. One of your life’s dreams was fulfilled when you attended the workshops not once but twice at the Monroe Institute surrounded by like-minded souls who gave you permission and the tools to explore and experience human consciousness. You brought that experience back to the valley where you co- facilitated excursion workshops with Laurin. Your greatest joy came from your two sons, Gavin and Aidan. You couldn't have been prouder or loved them more. As they grew into men, they became your friends. You loved talking about them and the escapades you shared, treasuring each moment you spent together. You also considered Keegan your "other son" and held a special place in your heart for Solara. That love extended to your nephew Elliot and nieces, Maddie, Sophia and Evelyn. You were the uncle that made life bigger for them, stretching their world, encouraging their dreams, helping them believe they could do anything. I would be remiss to not include your “kids" at the lab. You were so proud of the work they did, were amazed at their intelligence and recognized and appreciated how hard they worked. You were their boss but cared for them beyond that role. You leave behind your loving parents: Michael and Vivian Flanagan and Dennis Roycraft, your sons: Gavin and Aidan Roycraft, your sister: Alicia Kaisler and her husband: Cory and your brother: Garret Flanagan. Your aunts and uncles, who consider you more of a brother than a nephew: Mike (Judy) DeLaHunt, Sue (Tom) Merckx, Tom DeLaHunt (Todd West), Jane (Kurt) Coenen, Mary (Joe) VanderWyst, David DeLaHunt and Leah DeLaHunt (Joe McEwen); Nephew: Elliot Quinn; nieces: Maddie Quinn and Sophia Quinn and Evelyn Kaisler. As well as your "family" at Clean Water Testing and many other loving family members and friends. (The vendors at the farmers market, the baristas at the coffee shops, the clerks at the gas station and grocery stores, the farmers on your running route, really anyone you met.) As one of your friends stated, "If Eric was your friend, you didn't need another. He was your friend for life." On June 19, 2021 as a result of a tragic car accident, you left this world free of the body that held you back. Join us on Monday, July 26, from 4:00-7:30 at 1000 Islands Environmental Center, 1000 Beaulieu Ct., Kaukauna, to celebrate Eric’s life. At 6:45 we will gather in remembrance of Eric to end the evening. Albert Bellg, a dear friend of Eric's, will lead the gathering. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN LAWN CHAIR. To sign the guest book, please visit oconnellfh.com. My last gift to you is this story, Eric. This chapter ended too soon for me but will continue when we meet again. I love you!

O’CONNELL FUNERAL HOME, 1776 E. Main Street, Little Chute 788-6237