Lars Erik Gustav Eriksson

Lars Erik Gustav Eriksson

Lars Erik Gustav Eriksson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, engineer, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2026, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, surrounded by his family.

Born on May 22, 1937, in Trollhättan, Sweden, Lars was the son of Gustav and Astrid Eriksson. He pursued his passion for mechanical engineering at University of Borås Teknik, where he developed the skills and expertise that would define his career.

On June 23, 1961, Lars married the love of his life, Eva Johansson. Together they built a strong and loving family and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

Lars began his engineering career in Sweden. In true Viking spirit, he made the courageous decision in 1968 to move his young family from Sweden to the United States, accepting a position with The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington. During his time at Boeing, he contributed to work on the Boeing 747, an accomplishment he was proud to be a part of. This leap of faith reflected his determination and adventurous spirit.

After leaving Boeing, Lars and his family settled in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he joined Barker Manufacturing Company. During his 30-year career with Barker, from 1970 until his retirement in 2000, he began as a Mechanical Engineer, advanced to Plant Manager, and later became Chief Engineer.

Lars enjoyed playing tennis, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and was a lifelong learner. He was especially proud of his family and the lives they built together. He will be remembered for his deep curiosity and love of knowledge. Whether discussing science, history, politics, or current events, he rarely met a question he could not answer. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge and engaging in thoughtful conversations.

Lars is survived by his wife, Eva Eriksson; his children, Dan (Mary) Eriksson of Battle Creek, Michigan, Ann (Mark) Brownlee of Richland, Michigan, and Rita (Todd) Warman of Portage, Michigan.

He was a proud grandfather to Erin Eriksson (Evan Meister), Kirsten (Connor) Pytlowany, Derek (Ragna) Lewis, Sara (Danny) Alzate, Alicia (Alex) Badgley, and Kelsey (Rodrigo) Alcover. He was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren.

Lars was preceded in death by his parents, Gustav and Astrid Eriksson; his sister, Inge-Marie Andersson; and his granddaughter, Emily Eriksson, daughter of Dan and Mary Eriksson.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Visitation will be held at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home in Battle Creek, Michigan, where Lars’ family will receive visitors from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkison’s Research, Grand Central Station, PO Box 4777, New York, NY 10163 or online at donations@michaeljfox.org

Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.