Eric Alan Klingensmith

            Eric Alan Klingensmith beloved father, brother, and grandfather has peacefully passed away under the care of his daughter and her family in Gilbert Arizona on December 31, 2022.

        

Eric was the first of four children born to James and Margaret Klingensmith. He was born in Phoenix Arizona on October 28, 1954. Eric went on to graduate from McClintock High School in 1973. After Highschool, he went to work for a machine shop where he excelled and worked hard. In 1979 the first of Eric’s children, Travis Mishler was born. Shortly thereafter he married Deborah Babcock and had his second child, his only daughter, Erika Randall. In 1985 Eric married his second wife, Phyllis Hanson. Eric and Phyllis bought a semi-truck and started a career as a long-distance truck driving couple. Unfortunately, their time was cut short when Phyllis passed from cancer in 1990. Eric continued his long-haul trucking career for another 10 years or so until the turn of the century. Jeremy Havey, his third child was born in 1994.  Eric spent the last part of his professional years taking random long-haul jobs and miscellaneous construction projects.

Recreationally Eric was a bit of a thrill seeker, in his youth he enjoyed surfing, even making the cover of the “Big Surf” magazine in the 1960’s. As he got older, he enjoyed the toys that life offered him, such as his boats and bikes of which there were many. He also took up snowboarding and skiing too. But of all the things Eric loved to do, the TOP of the list was to see or even just speak with his lifelong group of friends who call themselves the “Dead Loads”

Eric is survived by his daughter Erika, Sons’ Jeremy and Travis, his sister Lisa, and his brother Kent, along with his aunt, niece, nephews, and grandchildren all of whom will miss him very much.

The memorial service will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Tempe Mortuary, 405 E Southern Ave Tempe, Arizona 85282. All are also invited to the home of Erika Randall after the service, 3718 E Cody Ave, Gilbert, Arizona 85234