Eric S. Stevens, age 60, of Grand Rapids, MN died unexpectedly on November 4, 2024 in Rye, Colorado while visiting family and friends.

Eric Sparling Stevens was born May 5, 1964 in Duluth, Minnesota, the son of Kay (Dietl) and Raymond Stevens.   He attended school and graduated from Duluth East High School in 1982.   Eric was honored to receive the Whiteside Scholarship which allowed him to continue his education and study engineering.   He attended Principia College in Illinois for two years before moving to Madison, Wisconsin to complete his bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Wisconsin.  Eric worked as a nuclear engineer at Zion station in Illinois, then as a contracting nuclear engineer at the Monticello, Minnesota station, retiring in 2015.

He was a gifted man and was constantly learning throughout his life – everything from learning basics of the German, Japanese and Spanish languages to becoming a connoisseur of all beers.  He enjoyed time with friends, sports, history, and politics. He was a prolific writer, with a self-published short story and a completed but unpublished science fiction novel.

On December 28, 2009, Eric met Stephanie. They had a connection that was unique to them – both had a love of science fiction of any kind, a strong interest in politics, a close connection to their families and an enthusiasm for traveling to new places. They enjoyed each other's company and their personalities, while different, were very complimentary.   Eric and Stephanie were married September 10, 2016.

Eric loved travel.  He traveled extensively Europe, went fishing in Iceland and Scotland, visited his sister, Shelley in Japan and a friend in the Bahamas.  Eric traveled with Stephanie to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.  He very much enjoyed motorcycling and rode up to Alaska with a friend and down to Baton Rouge with friends.  He motorcycled to almost every state on trips with his friends and with Stephanie.

Hockey was a great passion of Eric's; as a youngster; he played bantam hockey in Duluth.  Being an avid collector, he had a variety of items and he was always looking for the next "find".  Eric loved fishing with his father, Raymond and his love for fishing and hunting with friends was an important part of his life. Above all, Eric will be remembered for his sense of compassion, generosity, and his humility.

Eric will be deeply missed by his wife, Stephanie Stevens; his mother, Kay Cooke; three sisters, Shelley (Jan) Kovaleski, Antara Starling, and Carlin (Martin) Galvan; niece, Rachel Galvan; nephew, Evan Galvan; his aunt, Jean Spicer and her son, Dean Reed; his in-laws, the Schuette family; many, many friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.

Eric is preceded in death by his father, Raymond Stevens and his brother-in-law, Scot Roepcke.

A memorial service to honor Eric will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, December 7, 2024 in St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 501 NW 16th Street, Grand Rapids.  Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM and conclude at the start of the memorial service at the church.