Eric Karloski

Eric Scott Karloski

October 31, 1981 – January 11, 2025

Eric Karloski was an ordinary man who made extraordinary choices. He dealt with a large number of health problems during the course of his life, the last of which was congestive health failure. Despite all of his medical issues, Eric never let them define who he was. Instead, he made the most of every moment, every experience and every opportunity in life. His trademark look was a pipe in his mouth, a book in his hand, and a good beer or whiskey. He loved heavy metal music but also many other styles and loved horror movies, but also comedy and many others. It was his passion for life – short as it was – that we will all remember.

Eric’s friends perhaps say it best: “He’s an amazing human, guaranteed original and unique.” “Eric changed my life. He’s the only person during my adolescence who I felt really understood me. I could be stupid and intellectual with him.” “Eric was such a great friend. He was my oldest friend. He was so filled with love and wisdom. He taught me so much.” “Eric had a way of educating you without being boring.” “Always thoughtful and generous, he gifted me this jar of aged and pressed Billy Budd, knowing of my fondness for the [tobacco] blend. Words cannot adequately convey how much I will cherish his friendship.” “Eric was my best friend in high school. I would not be who I am today if not for him.” “What a blessing you were in my life. So thankful to have known you.” “Sometimes someone enters our life and reminds us of all the good that is in this world. Eric was such a person.” “I will miss his big heart, his wry sense of humor, and his love for God’s word.” “Eric left behind such a legacy of kindness, passion, compassion, and service that will never be forgotten, literally across the world.” “I want a hundred years of talking with you about heavy metal. I want a hundred years of you telling me that I am wrong about the book of Mark...And I want more more more more.”

Eric Scott Karloski was born on October 31, 1981 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Stephen L. and Jean A. Karloski of Rockford, Michigan. His brother, Ryan Jeffrey Karloski, died at age 19 in a car accident in Rockford when Eric was 15. He was a 2000 graduate of Rockford High School. He graduated from Cornerstone University in 2004 with a bachelors degree in Bible, Religion, and Ministries. He studied Hebrew and ancient near Eastern languages at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and obtained a master’s degree in Old Testament Studies in 2008. Several threads wove through Eric’s life: His faith and the study of the Bible, marriage, community and friendship, pipes, music, and so many other hobbies and enjoyments!

Faith and study of the Bible: Although he wasn’t a reader as a child, he became an avid reader in college. His master’s thesis was on the function of time in Israel’s history. He wrote several blogs on the book of Ecclesiastes together with a friend, and those blogs were eventually intended to become a book. He was always reading and studying theology, and smoking a pipe while talking theology with others. At one point he kept Berkhof’s Systematic Theology by his bed for bedtime reading. He (together with Nicky) taught in India at Life Theological Seminary in Bhubaneswar for a year. Eric taught Hebrew language and Old Testament studies. Eric was active in his church as well. For many years Eric and Nicky attended Church of The Servant

where Eric served as an elder and taught Sunday school, then later they attended Christ Church where Eric taught 4th graders in Sunday school and was part of the men’s Bible study.

Marriage, Community, and Friendship: Eric met his soulmate, Nicolette “Nicky” Joseph, at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary early in 2006. They had a class together and she asked him if he knew of any used bookstores in the area. That perked him up and he told her that he happened to work at the area’s largest Christian used bookstore. One of the first times they spent time together was used bookstore shopping. In one store, they ventured down to the basement to see the books, not knowing it was closing time. The store owner turned off the lights and started locking up before Eric and Nicky ran back upstairs to ask to be let out! Eric proposed to Nicky in the Himalayan Mountains. They married on November 3, 2007. Eric and Nicky lived in an Intentional Christian Community called The Kairos House from 2014 until he died. Sophia, Matt, and Logan were housemates, dear friends, constant supports, and brothers and sisters in Christ. The Kairos house had a ministry of hospitality and loved hosting parties and entertaining guests.

Pipes: Eric acquired a love of pipes and cigars and owned more than 100 pipes. He was a certified tobacconist, started the Furniture City Pipe Society and was a member of the United Pipe Clubs of America. He worked as the store manager at Indian River Tobacco Traders in Wyoming, Michigan from 2014-2018. He went to pipe shows across the country and made tobacco blends for fun and for a beginning business venture, Lacrimosa blends. He loved to talk theology or read while smoking his pipe, and would wax eloquent about the virtues of a good pipe and the quality time it supported.

Music and other hobbies: After his brother died, Eric inherited a set of drums from his late cousin, Jerry Morville, and taught himself how to play. He also played guitar, and played at Oakfield Baptist Church. He loved metal, and every year in October would listen to October Rust by Type O Negative. Once, he and Nicky listened to the album together while out walking in the snow at night. It was a surreal, peaceful, and beautiful experience and he would certainly invite you to try it.

While his health allowed it, Eric loved to play disc golf. He loved movies of all types and would probably cite Stalker, directed by Tarkovsky, as his favorite. He was the back office manager/inventory specialist at Mediterranean Island International Foods since 2018, a job that he loved because of the people there and the cultural experiences. His bosses were understanding, flexible, and incredibly kind during his multiple hospitalizations. Eric loved animals, including their dog Luna, and cats Dorothy and Laska, and loved to travel and have adventures. He had been to Brazil, China, India, Nepal, Canada, and Costa Rica, as well as many other states.

He died at age 43 in his home in Kentwood on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 3:30 p.m., with his wife and parents by his side.

Eric was preceded in death by his sons, Ransom, Theodore and Elijah; brother, Ryan; grandparents, the Rev. Homer and Leona Baker, and George and Jeanette Karloski; aunts Lois

Baker and Marilyn Randall (Jerry); uncles Dale Baker and Richard Morville; and cousins Collette Baker and Jerry Morville.

He is survived by his wife, Nicolette; parents Stephen and Jean Karloski; parents-in-law, Mark and Charlene Joseph of Byron Center, Michigan; sister-in-law Lisa Malinoski (Ryan); aunts Judith Morville and Linda Walthorn; cousins Colleen Koetsier, Rachelle Wakeman (Eric), Dawn Morville Johnson (Brad); Carrie Vanwyck, Terrie Coonrod, RJ Walthorn, and many friends across the world.

The family invites you to the visitation on Thursday, January 23, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Eric and Nicky’s church, Christ Church (PCA), 2500 Breton Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Another visitation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2025, before the service at Christ Church (PCA), 2500 Breton Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. The service honoring and celebrating Eric’s life will be Friday, January 24, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Christ Church (PCA), 2500 Breton Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. The service will be officiated by Pastor Andrew VanderMass.

Following the service, the family welcomes you to a luncheon at the church. Eric will be buried next to his brother and with his sons at the Oakfield Cemetery at a later date after cremation.

Memorials or donations may be made to reformedcigars.org, a ministry that uses cigar and coffee products and sales to fund church plants and biblical education.