Eric O. Haberstich, age 73, of Rapid River passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his four children after a courageous battle of cancer on Monday, April 24, 2017.
Eric was born April 30, 1943 in Elgin, Illinois, the son of Clarence and Mildred (Ostlund) Haberstich. The family moved to the family farm in Gulliver and he graduated from Manistique High School in 1961, and left for the Navy. He was the owner and operator of Dun-Rite Appliances and Repair in Gladstone and sold deer bait in Rapid River for many years. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, loved the outdoors, hunting and Nascar. He was a hardworking man and always busy with projects. He constructed the building that the Rapid River Knifeworks now occupies and also built his own log home.
Eric is survived by his daughters, Rachel (Andrew) Benson of Plymouth, MN, and Gwen (Jason) Christianson of Rapid River; his sons, Lucas Haberstich of Rapid River and Adam (Corinne) Haberstich of Escanaba; his grandchildren, Zachary, Gabriel, Aurora, Geneva, Ezekiel, Aiden, Paige, Oliver and Ava; his brother, Ron (Carol) Haberstich of Genoa City, WI; his brother-in-law, Tim Miller of Manistique and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Clarice.
The family will receive friends on Monday, May 1 from 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Military Honors will be presented at 1:45 PM by the Gladstone American Legion Post 71 and the U.S. Navy Funeral Honor Guard.. Memorial services celebrating Eric’s life will be at 2:00 PM with Pastor Chris Johnson officiating. A luncheon will follow at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid River.