Eric Bradshaw
Eric was born on January 2nd 1985 in Vancouver, BC
Eric passed away suddenly, tragically & unexpectedly, on December 27th, 2021 in Kelowna, BC
Eric is survived by his Mom: Lori Bradshaw, Grandmother: Joyce Dawson, Brother: Ryan Lestage (Sarah Mammel), Pops: Allen Lestage (Beth Atkinson), Uncles: Wayne Dawson & Bruce Dawson,
Aunts: Elaine Boomhower, Sandra Dawson, Keyra Skye, Cousins: Cassie & Rory Dawson, Lisa & Myles Boomhower, Amy & Ivy McNabb, Vanessa Belcourt & Brothers from other Mothers’: Stephan Redpath & Max Hewkin
Eric was predeceased by his Brother: Rocky “Al” Lestage (2001) & his Grandfather: Ken Dawson (2018)
MEMORIAL SERVICE (Open to all regardless of vaccination status):
Saturday, February 26th, 2022 at 2 pm. (Livestreamed – link on Springfield Funeral Home Website)
Springfield Funeral Home 2020 Springfield Rd, Kelowna
CREMATION & INTERMENT:
GRAVESIDE SERVICE (Open to all regardless of vaccination status):
Memorial Park Cemetery – 2PM, Sat., March 19, 2022
3300 Memorial Park Lane, Prince George, BC
RECEPTION WITH CELEBRATION OF LIFE (Open to all regardless of vaccination status):
Following the graveside service there will be an informal Reception & Celebration of Life with snacks/refreshments.
Please join us & share the best stories you have about Eric.
ERIC’S STORY
Eric was born in Vancouver, BC where he started kindergarten & grade school, and when he was still a young boy, Eric moved to Prince George, BC. It is in Prince George, where Eric formed some of his best friendships; friendships that would last his entire lifetime.
Eric played hockey & lacrosse, was involved in track & field, took Shotokan Karate in his youth, and Kick Boxing later on. Eric was also involved in MMA training throughout most of his adult life.
Eric loved hiking, camping, the outdoors, guns, crossbows and surviving off the land.
Eric became a welder-fabricator in 2008 and his welding career saw him travel and live in many places in both BC and Alberta, having spent considerable time in the Malakwa, Sicamous & Salmon Arm, BC areas, as well as several years based out of Grand Prairie, AB.
In early 2020 Eric made the move to Kelowna, BC, mostly to be closer to his family & to help take care of his grandmother.
Eric had found a new job he loved in Kelowna, in Viticulture, with Earlco Vineyards. He truly respected his boss Colleen & her leadership style & he really enjoyed working with his coworkers at Earlco.
He was looking forward to the 2022 season at Earlco at the time of his passing.
Struggles with Mental Health
Anyone that knew Eric, knew he struggled deeply and openly with mental health issues.
He was always very open with everyone about his struggles.
Over the past 3 ½ years Eric committed himself to a clean, sober, healthy and holistic lifestyle, and was actively seeking out alternative medical treatments for his mental health issues.
Through it all, he had the loving support of his friends and family. But this is not WHO Eric was.
Outdoorsman and Adventurer Living a Clean, Sober, Healthy and Holistic Lifestyle
Eric was an outdoorsman, an adventurer, feeling most whole in solitude in nature. He was an avid hiker and camper, challenging himself with what he could do on his own with dreams of getting to a place where he could be self-sustained, living off the grid and off of the land. He nurtured impressive tomato crops in summer and had recently found work in viticulture, which he loved.
A Gifted Musician
Eric was a gifted musician. He played outside the lines. Chaotic yet beautiful guitar riffs would flow out of him for hours, like a language, a story, something he had to share. He was a creator. He invented his own frequencies to play in; frequencies that were sometimes hypnotic.
A Wordsmith and a Poet
Eric was a wordsmith. Though he might have never admitted it, he was a poet. I’ve spent hours listening to the way he would string thoughts and words and questions together. His ability to retain, dissect, and re-imagine information was laced with genius. You could sometimes almost see how he’d reach up into the complexity of his thoughts, pull down threads, and work to weave them into something we might be able to understand. So we might know him, understand him. The poet.
Loving, Supportive and Giving of Himself
Eric was loving. He found purpose in loving his friends and family, protecting them, and being there for them. He held the duality of gentle and strong, calm and turbulent. He loved MMA, reading and researching, video games, comedy, natural and holistic health, olives, his mother, his grandma, his brother, his dad, his family, his friends…
Caring, Kind and Generous
Eric also cared deeply about others, even people he didn’t know. One day he was too tired and hungry to cook after working long hours in the vineyard, so he decided to grab himself a subway sandwich. On his way home from Subway, Eric saw a homeless man looking hungry and gave the sandwich to the homeless man. Eric told us that the homeless man needed it more than he did. He never did go back and get himself another sandwich; he just went home. Eric was so very kind and generous.
The Tragic Loss of a Multi-faceted Young Man Before His Time
This is a tragic loss. The missing of a wonderful man. In his own words, death was most real, and life was the challenge, and “I meet that in the middle with as much grace as I can.” You did incredibly well Eric, our brother. You met unbearable struggle with grace. You learnt. You grew. You loved. You created. You will never be forgotten. We will carry you into the woods, onto the water, and through the notes of guitar strings.
May Eric’s soul be at peace.