Eric Lundberg Obituary

Former Durango resident Eric Brian Lundberg died from complications of cancer Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, at the University of Colorado at Denver Hospital. He was one month shy of his 52nd birthday.

Mr. Lundberg was born to Donald and Mildred (Peasley) Lundberg on Jan. 31, 1959, in Modesto, Calif. He grew up on a ranch.

He met Karen Kelsay when they were both attending Fort Lewis College. The couple married on June 18, 1988, in Evergreen.

In 1989, Mr. Lundberg began his career in the insurance business, and, in 1995, he started his own insurance agency in Salida. His passion, knowledge, and hard work helped him develop a very successful and respected company, his family said.

"Eric had many loves and passions, his greatest being his family," his family said. "They loved to travel all over the world. His adventures started by sailing with Karen and his father-in-law across the Atlantic in a 32-foot sailboat."

Mr. Lundberg passed on many of these passions to his children when traveling to Costa Rica, Thailand, Mexico and here in the Rocky Mountains. Most recently, the Lundberg family was planning a fishing trip in Kauai, Hawaii.

"There was a deep-seated rancher in Eric," his family said. "He loved to work his five acres raising cattle, pigs and chickens. He loved being in the mountains, whether it was backpacking with his family, skiing with his brother, hunting with his friends for the elusive elk, or braving the bitter cold for the occasional duck."

Mr. Lundberg rode the Leadville 100 twice and was a member of the South Central Racing cycling team. He enjoyed road and mountain biking in the Salida area. A few years ago, he expanded his hobbies to include fly fishing. Among his favorite winter activities were telemarking, downhill and skate skiing.

"He was a great lover of the outdoors, and this passion was contagious to those around him," his family wrote. "Eric's sense of humor, integrity, honesty, and work ethic make his family very proud of him."

Mr. Lundberg is survived by his wife of 22 years, Karen Lundberg, of Salida; son, Garrett Lundberg, of Salida; daughter, Kelsay Lundberg, of Salida; brother, Carl Lundberg, of Durango; sister, Suzanne Bartels, of Sonora, Calif.; and father, Donald Lundberg, of Sonora.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at Salida Vineyard Christian Church 1201 E. Highway 50 in Salida.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Mr. Lundberg's name to Collegiate Peaks Bank, 540 Colorado Highway 50, Salida, CO 81201 to set up a cycling scholarship fund.