If you knew Eric Holzer, you knew his girls. You knew because he talked about them constantly, because his face changed when they walked into a room, and because everything he built in his life — every friendship, every commitment, every Saturday morning — pointed back to them.

Eric passed away unexpectedly on February 17, 2026, at the age of 41. He leaves behind his wife Ina, their daughters Lexi (9) and Ruby (5), and a community that is still trying to make sense of a world without him in it.

There are a lot of things people will tell you about Eric. That he worked his entire career at Lease Crutcher Lewis and that the people there weren't coworkers — they were family. That he was president of the Ridgecrest Elementary PTA. That he coached kids' teams. That he volunteered without being asked and showed up without being reminded. All of that is true. But the thing that mattered most to Eric — the thing he was proudest of — was being Papa.

He was the dad who was up for anything. The dad on the floor building something. The dad at every game, every school event, every bedtime. He and Ina built a life rooted in friendship, community, and the simple belief that you show up for the people around you — and you do it with joy. Eric brought warmth, energy, love -- and a little goofiness -- to every situation that made everyone around him feel like family, and made every gathering more joyful.

He learned those values early spending vacations on his grandparents' ranch in southeastern Montana, where wide-open spaces and hard honest work shaped the man he became. He carried that spirit into everything: his marriage, his friendships, his work, and most of all, into raising Lexi and Ruby with Ina. Family. Community. Play. Giving back. .

We are raising funds to support the Holzer family during this devastating time. Contributions will go toward memorial and service costs, immediate support for Ina and the girls as they navigate life without Eric, and a fund for Lexi and Ruby's education — so that their Papa's investment in their future continues to grow.

Eric gave willingly of his time with no expectation of anything in return. He did his part to enrich the lives of the people around him. Now it's our turn.

If you have questions about helping out, please get in touch with AJ, Kate, Mark, Tara, Bobby, Ben, Liya, and/or Kelly or send a question to family members you may know.