***In lieu of flowers, memorials strongly preferred to Kaleb House Child Restoration facility for survivors of child sex trafficking, CentraCare Gorecki Guest House for families requiring accommodation for loved ones' extended stay in the St. Cloud Hospital, or Project Semicolon, a mental health advocacy and awareness organization. Please see direct links to these organizations below.***

Eric David Gabrielson made his thunderous debut during one of the worst storms in Chippewa County history on May 7th, 1993, at the Chippewa County Hospital in Montevideo. His parents, Duane and Tami Gabrielson, nearly hydroplaned on their way to the hospital, forced to drive on sidewalks because the streets were so flooded. A strong, remarkable child from the beginning, Eric began walking at 8.5 months, meeting his doctor for his 9-month appointment in the hallway, who then remarked, "You're not supposed to be doing that yet." This strength and determination carried over into his high school years as a senior on the Dawson-Boyd state championship football team, before graduating with the Class of 2012. Following graduation, Eric tinkered in mechanics and worked as a part-time trucker for Viessman Trucking, but where he truly belonged was in the field alongside his dad, Duane, and grandpa, David, as a third-generation farmer—and together they ran like a well-oiled machine.

In September 2023, Eric connected with a woman from across the world, Christina Mercier, who became the love of his life. Eric proposed on New Year's Eve, 2024, and on March 17th, 2024, Christina and Eric were married in a beautiful ceremony on the beach in Christina's home country of Mauritius. Truly the happiest day of his life, Eric couldn't wait to start a family of his own.

Family was everything to Eric—he was super-uncle to his nieces and nephews, loving them fiercely and making it hard to find a picture of him by himself where he wasn't surrounded by the little people in his life who simply adored him. His siblings, Justin and Megan, have fond memories of their childhood spent playing in the grove and in the treehouse by their home. There were trips to Norway Lake with cousins, wakeboarding, skiing, ice-fishing—Eric loved partaking in all of it with his family. He took special care in making sure to be involved with his grandparents and visiting his great-grandma Marge.

Second only to his love of family was Eric's affection for dogs, particularly his dog, Maya. He also had a proclivity for spicy food; if it made him break out in a sweat, you knew it was good. He was a lifelong learner, always researching and possessing a desire to learn something new about history or the world around him; an old soul—he longed for a return to simpler times.

As stormy as Eric's entrance into this life was, so too was his passing onto the next at the young, heartbreaking age of 31. His selfless gift of organ donation gave no less than four people a second chance at life, in addition to the countless others who will be helped because of his gifts in the future, and in this way, Eric will continue to live on. Preceding Eric in death is his maternal grandfather, Lyle Mullins.

Left to keep his memory alive are his wife, Christina Mercier and baby "Poppy" due in November 2024; his parents, Duane and Tami Gabrielson; brother, Justin (Mary Ann) Gabrielson; sister, Megan Gabrielson; nieces and nephews, Emery Nelson, Kyro Gabrielson, and Aria Nelson; grandparents, David and Janet Gabrielson; great-grandmother, Marge, and many special cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and his beloved dog, Maya. The family wishes to send their heartfelt thanks to the first responders who worked tirelessly and never quit fighting for Eric.

A gathering and time of visitation with Eric's family and friends will be held on Sunday, May 19th, from 2-4 PM at the J.H. Lynner Funeral Home in Clarkfield.

Kaleb House Child Restoration Facility
807 W Broadway St., Spiro OK 74959
Email: admin@kalebhouse.org
Web: https://www.kalebhouse.org/donate

CentraCare Gorecki Guest House
1309 Sixth Ave. N, St. Cloud MN 56303
Tel: 1-320-255-6643
Web: https://give.centracare.com/give/262942/#!/donation/checkout

Project Semicolon
Web: https://www.projectsemicolon.com/give/