Erik Paul Joramo

Erik Joramo entered the afterlife on August 13th, 2020.   He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend who will be greatly missed.  His father, Paul W. Joramo; Stepfather, Waven G. Schlepp; and sister, Jodi Joramo were all there to meet him as he crossed over.  He is survived by his mother, Judy Schlepp; sister, Wendy, her husband Shayne and daughter Shelby; brother, Seth, his wife Crystal and daughter Emma; Stepsister, Jayme Schlepp and her children: Stepbrother, Mark, his wife Jackie and children; Stepsister, Karlene Swenson, her husband Jerry, her son Karl and daughter-in-law Amanda; Stepbrother, Kellye Schlepp, his wife Judy and their children.

Erik deeply loved and was deeply loved by his friends, biological family and the family of his heart.  He had a very special bond with both his biological and of the heart nieces and nephews who absolutely adored him.  Erik had no problems making time for the kids by playing "Go Fish", Candy Land, visiting kid's play areas or watching the same movie over and over and over to please the child. Erik studied the families genealogy and was able to find additional cousins living in Norway and all across the United States. The relatives he found in Norway even made a special trip to Great Falls, MT to meet Erik and reunite those previously lost ties. Time that was special and enjoyed by Erik and his family.

Erik spent his career in the service industry and worked at a couple places before coming home to Fast Car Wash.  He loved Fast Car Wash so much that we always made time to visit a local car wash - even in Germany!  While he liked the company, he really loved the people, the sense of family and the way the company was run.  

Erik was a life-long Miami Dolphin's fan, through the good and the bad times.  He wore his dolphin gear with pride.  He was thrilled to be able to attend The Dolphin at the Cowboys game last year with his best friend Ron in 2019.  He wore his gear everywhere, smiling when the guys at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing tour told him that he had to turn his shirt inside out and the guys on the floor making $100 bills gave him a hard time and wrote notes to him.

While in Texas he also got to experience Texas Style Friday Night lights and watch his niece perform in the marching band on the field.  He was also there for the homecoming parade and helped pass out water to the kids as they marched by in the heat.  Erik wore the Burleson High School t-shirt and hat with the same pride that he wore his Dolphins gear.  

He was active in the Society for Creative Anachronism, learning to fenc eand becoming interested in both making and drinking mead.  No trip was complete without looking for local mead.  He even recruited relatives to bring him mead from far off places like Tucson and Poland.  

He had a lifelong love of science fiction after seeing the first Star Wars movie when he was young.  His favorite show, Dr Who matched his very dry and British sense of humor. He even sent him mom, sister and niece across London on a mission to find the last Tardis in London.  He was thrilled to find a Tardis in Germany on his trip as well as one in Burleson, TX.

Erik had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed traveling.  He went to the Oregon State Fair with his family of the heart for many years.  He visited Texas several times and made the hop across the Pond to Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands in 2014. While in Europe he got to attend a medieval festival at an actual castle complete with knights and jousting!  While in Amsterdam he ate pancakes and visited the Anne Frank Haus.  The look on Erik's face when he passed a "Coffee Haus" and smelled marijuana was priceless.  He declined a tour of the red-light district - probably not something a guy wants to do with his sister...

His adventurous spirit carried on with hunting with his brother and brother-in-law.  There were many rememberable trips.  The most was while taking a break along a stream bed. After couple of minutes a whitetail buck decided it was time to explode out of the bush two feet From Erik’s feet. While almost dropping his rifle, he turned and ran the opposite direction.

For those of us waiting to join Erik, perhaps we will take comfort in the words of Antoine St Expery from the Little Prince that could have been written with Erik in mind:  

“All men have stars, but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems... But all these stars are silent. You-You alone will have stars as no one else has them... In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars will be laughing when you look at the sky at night. You, only you, will have stars that can laugh! And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me... You will always be my friend. You will want to laugh with me. And you will sometimes open your window, so, for that pleasure... It will be as if, in place of the stars, I had given you a great number of little bells that knew how to laugh”

A Celebration of Life in honor of Erik’s life will be held on Sunday, September 6, 5:00 PM, at the Black Eagle Park.

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