Vandergraaf – It is with sadness that the family of Eric Vandergraaf (Ned) announces the sudden death of a beloved son and brother on Tuesday, July 4th near Taber Alberta. Eric was born in Terrace Bay, Ontario on September 22, 1977. He was joyously welcomed into the world by his parents John and Heather. Eric is also survived by his sister Layla, with who he was very close to all of his life. Eric will also be missed by his Opa, Jan Vandergraaf of Sarnia, Ontario, his Gramma, Elva Smith of St. Catharines, Ontario, and his Great Grandfather, Roy E. Smith of St. Catharines, Ontario. His presence will also be missed by aunts, uncles, cousins and many close friends. Eric attended Lake Superior High School were he played on the soccer, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and curling teams. Eric was an avid curler and made many friends while curling competitively. Eric also loved to golf, fish and sky dive. Skiing also became a sport that he both enjoyed and excelled at. Eric also attended Confederation College and as many young people in northwestern Ontario have done, Eric moved to Brooks, Alberta where he discovered that the meat packing business was not for him and he decided his future lay in the “patch”. Eric made many career changes during his early years in the oil and gas industry. He eventually joined the Nabors Company where he worked his way up to become a driller and run his own rig. He was proud of the work he did and the life that he lived. A ceremony to celebrate Eric’s life was held on Sunday, July 9th at the Terrace Bay Legion. A memorial service will be held in Brooks, Alberta at Gus’s First Station Pub Sunday July 16th at 7pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. John’s Ambulance Society whose efforts to save Eric will not be forgotten. You are the sunshine of our lives.
