Eric R. Erlandson

In Loving Memory of Eric Erlandson
Born in Park Ridge, IL | Passed Peacefully in Gainesville, FL
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Eric Erlandson, who left us peacefully in Gainesville, Florida. He was born at Resurrection Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, and spent his formative years in the scenic surroundings of Wadsworth, Illinois—an environment that fostered his lifelong love and deep respect for nature.
Eric was a devoted environmentalist and inventive spirit, constantly seeking ways to blend creativity with care for the planet. His passion for the earth led him to study horticulture, a field that perfectly captured his reverence for the natural world and his profound understanding of how life grows, thrives, and sustains itself.
Beyond his dedication to the environment, Eric found immense joy in the simple, yet fulfilling act of fishing. As an avid fisherman, he cherished every moment by the water, with a rod in hand and patience in his heart. His love for nature and his family were seamlessly intertwined, and his final wish was to cast one more line with the two people who shaped his life—his father and his son, Elliott. This poignant wish reflects the quiet strength of his bond with those he loved.
Eric will be remembered for his gentle wisdom, innovative mind, and the steadfast love he had for his family and the world around him. He leaves behind a legacy of respect for nature, kindness to others, and an enduring passion for the life he lived.
Eric is survived by:
Son: Elliott Michael Crifasi & his girlfriend Madison Faye Dickinson
Daughter: Lauren Marie Crifasi & her boyfriend Gavin Michael Rigney
Father: Everett Morten Erlandson
Brother: Kevin Everett Erlandson
Sister: Kathleen Mary Erlandson-Knoll 
Granddaughters: Lotus Anne-Marie Komater, Kinslie Renee Komater, Delilah Rowen Stohr, and soon-to-be grandson Baby Rigney
Mother of his 3 Beautiful Children: Rene'e Ann Erlandson
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Carolyn Erlandson, and his two sons, Nicholas Arthur Komater and Owen Richard Crifasi, and his sister Kimberly Ann Erlandson.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor his memory by spending time in nature, planting something green, or simply casting a line in his honor.

Afterglow
I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow
of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times
and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve,
to dry before the sun;
Of happy memories that I leave
when life is done.