Eriq Andrew Chmielewski

(August 20, 1996 ~ August 12, 2016)

Eriq Andrew Chmielewski, son of Joseph Andrew Chmielewski,  Jr. and Charity Dianne Kraatz and buried in Dewey Cemetery, Lawn, Taylor County, Texas.

Eriq Andrew Chmielewski, 19, passed away at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth Texas in the presence of his loving parents on Friday, August 12, 2016, after a year and two month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. A life celebration will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 1:43 pm at Lawn Baptist Church with Pastor Pat Voce officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, August 18th with family visitation from 5:00-6:00 pm and public visitation from 6:00-8:00 pm at Fry-Smith Funeral Home in Tuscola.

Eriq was born on August 20, 1996 at 1:43 pm to Joseph Jr and Charity Chmielewski at Abilene Regional Medical Center in Abilene. Eriq attended Jim Ned CISD and gained many lifelong friends while attending elementary through high school graduation. While in school, Eriq was an avid athlete, participating in football, cross country, basketball, baseball and track while in high school. Eriq lettered in cross country as a freshmen. During football season, Eriq would play in football games on Friday nights and turn around and run cross country on Saturday mornings. This was his testament to endurance and strong will. Eriq won a lot of medals and trophies but the one thing that he loved about sports was the comradery he felt with his friends. Eriq was a huge New York Yankees, UT, Philadelphia Eagles and Golden State Warriors fan. Eriq's passion was sports, even when not playing a sport he could tell you stats and followed all sports. After high school, Eriq attended Angelo State University with a major of Kinesiology. He met a lot of new friends while there and spoke of them frequently. Eriq was a joker and had an infectious and mischievous smile. He loved life and loved the people that had come into his life. The last year and two months of Eriq’s life were spent at Cook Children’s Hospital battling AML. While on this journey, Eriq met some amazing people who touched his heart. He would spend time playing and talking to the younger kids who were battling cancer to help them on their journey. In Eriq’s 19 years on this earth he touched so many lives and was a role model on how to never give up no matter what obstacles you were facing!

In Lieu of flowers or plants please send a donation in Eriq’s name to the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth, 1001 8th Ave, Fort Worth, Texas 76104. This organization allowed us to spend the last year and two months of quality time with Eriq and have a home away from home.

Survivors include his parents, Joseph and Charity Chmielewski Jr. of Tuscola; Paternal Grandparents, John and Barbara Erwin of Yuba City, CA; Maternal Grandparents, Johnny and Lorie Kraatz of Lawn.

Paternal Grandfather, Joseph Chmielewski of Tuscola; Aunts and Uncles: Eric and Taji Sperber of Sacramento, CA; Chris and Summer Kraatz of Aurora, CO; Cody and Cindi Kraatz of Roundrock; Jon and Tiffany Davis of Tuscola; Jarrett and Kristin Decker of Yuba City, CA; Clayton and Jackie Kraatz of Great Falls, MT and Michael Chmielewski of Tuscola; Paternal Great Grandparents, Mike and Nina Minard of Dayton, NV; Maternal Great Grandparents, Fred and Margreat Kraatz of Ovalo.

Cousins: Carson, Presley and Karley Sperber, Braden Parnell, Patience and Asher Kraatz, Chyanne, Case and Caura Kraatz, Ryden and Rylee Davis, Hannah and Chad Wyman; Eriq had numerous cousins, great aunts and great uncles.