Eric was born in Denver, CO on March 25, 1936 to Ralph and Clara (Barr) Aaberg. He spent his growing up years in Colorado, Casper, WY, Detroit, MI then Portland, OR. He fondly remembered his summers spent in Kelso, WA visiting his cousins and grandparents. He graduated from Jefferson High School in Portland, OR in 1954. He played football there all four years and received his varsity letter. He served his country honorably in the Navy Reserve from 1954-1962.
Eric met Janet Blanc in 1957 while they both attended Portland State College. They married in 1960 and had two children, Kathleen in 1963 and Glen in 1965. He got a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Oregon in 1963, then a second Master’s degree from the University of Arizona in Spanish language in 1973. He was a Spanish and French high school teacher for 38 years and retired in 2001. He and Janet spent their retirement years traveling in Europe, Central America and the United States.
A lifelong learner, he surrounded himself with books and instilled in his kids the value of education. A globalist, he considered himself a citizen of the world. He enjoyed seeing his old students through the years and they often called him “their favorite teacher.”
Eric is survived by his wife Janet, brother Eric M. Aaberg (Nate), daughter Kathleen (Aaberg) Olsen and son Glen Aaberg (Vicki). He had five grandchildren, Gabriel Matson, Samara (Matson) Wartes, Mark Olsen, Isaac Aaberg and Isabel Aaberg. He had four great-grandchildren: Summer, Richard, Malakai and Annabelle Wartes.
Please join us for a Celebration of Eric’s life on Saturday March 30, 2019 at the Keith & Keith Funeral Home at 902 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA from 1:00-2:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cottage in the Meadow Hospice, 1208 S. 48th Ave., Yakima, WA 98908
