Obituary of Eric M. Williamson

Eric M. Williamson 48, of Iowa City died Thursday, April 19, 2012, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 23, 2012, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Iowa City, with burial to follow at Oakland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Eric's memory to Iowa City Hospice or Band Associates of City High "BACH". Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Eric Matthew Williamson was born March 31, 1964, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City the youngest son of Harold E. and Joan L. (Chase) Williamson. He attended Iowa City Schools, graduating from City High School in 1982 and from the University of Iowa College of Engineering with his BSEE degree in 1988. Eric was united in marriage to DaLayne C. Qvern on December 30, 1989, in Cresco, Iowa. As a lifelong resident of Iowa City, he worked for the former Eagle Foods for over 20 years working from a bagboy to management positions locally and in the Quad Cities. Upon their closing he worked for a short time at Lowes, and most recently for a number of years worked from home in the health insurance area for Mercer Administration in Iowa City. Eric loved his life and his family. From the time his two children were born he was very involved in their activities. He was an enthusiastic "dance dad" for Grace and an eager participant with Zach's Boy Scout activities. He and Zach were both inducted into the Order of the Arrow and enjoyed the time they spent with their scout friends. He was a volunteer in the library at Horace Mann Elementary, and he assisted in both of his children's classrooms at the Religious Education Program at Regina. Eric was an avid collector and painter of toy soldiers with an emphasis on the Battle of Waterloo. Eric created a large 1/72 scale diorama of the battle over many years and the family is considering a number of different options to have it on public display. While in school he played trumpet in the South East Junior High and City High bands and orchestras. Eric passed on his love of music to his children and was proud to be their first trumpet teacher and duet partner. The family also enjoyed traveling together both in the US and abroad, including a recent visit to London for Christmas where his sister has lived for many years with her family. Visits to Norway, Iceland, Chamonix, England, Iowa Hawkeye Bowl Games with Eric's father and road trips to Bemidji, MN will also be treasured memories. Most of all, what Eric would be proud to be remembered for, was his love of his family and friends. His children always knew Dad was there for them. His family includes his wife, DaLayne; their two children, Zach and Grace; his father, Harold "Harry" Williamson; his sister and her husband, Julie Williamson and John Pritchard and their son, Charlie Pritchard of London, England; his brother and his wife, Tim and Judie Williamson of Houston, TX and their daughter, Kelsey; and his father in-law and mother in-law Bob and Diane Qvern of Cresco, Iowa. Eric was preceded in death by his mother, Joan Williamson in 2001.