Eric James Van Vooren, 54, of Loveland, Ohio, formerly from Wooster, Ohio passed away peacefully on Monday, July 22, 2024.

He was born on March 23, 1970, in Toledo, Ohio, to Morris and Cecelia Van Vooren. He is preceded in death by his father in March 2024 and his beloved mother in 2010. Eric is survived by two older brothers, Robert (Beth) Van Vooren of Whispering Pines, North Carolina, and Brent Van Vooren of Maderia, Ohio, and one older sister, Lynn (John) Periatt of Milford, Ohio. He was a doting uncle to Jenny Krantz (Andrew), Jared Van Vooren (Megan), Jessica Van Vooren, Michael Periatt (Maya Jacob).

Born with Down Syndrome, Eric never let his limitations define him, and, in fact, took pride in overcoming them. When doctors told him he would need braces to walk, he learned to run without them. He even swam and ran track in multiple events in the Special Olympics. Although many questioned whether he should even go to school, Eric attended and proudly graduated from Wooster High School in 1990. And despite doctors doubting whether he could ever be employed, Eric worked for 29 years at The College of Wooster, never missing a day.

Eric was a man of many passions. He was a fixture at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where the regulars all knew him as the best-dressed man in attendance. He loved the arts. In his spare time, he learned to play the keyboard and the violin, and while he could play off sheet music, he much preferred free styling with whatever rhythm was stirring in his soul. Those who met him would inevitably become aware of his love of movies and music. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of actors, singers, and bands. His DVD collection topped four stories and he had a CD collection to match. When he didn’t have to work the next day, Eric liked to stay up to the wee hours of the night watching a blockbuster action film (James Bond was his favorite). Eric also had a special passion for dancing. He would earn rave reviews whenever he spun and twirled his way across the dance floor, often emulating his personal favorite, Michael Jackson. His siblings will tell you he stole the show at their own weddings.

He identified with the peace and love of the 1960s and ‘70s, and the hard-working ethic of his Iowa-farming roots. He hoped to one day explore the land of his ancestors in Ireland.

Eric had a knack for leaving an impression on just about everybody he met. If you walked around town with Eric or sat down for an after-church brunch at Bob Evans, it was common for somebody to come up to him beaming and anxious to say hello to their local friend. Eric had no enemies, just a seemingly ever-expanding collection of friends.

And even in his final years, Eric was a dreamer. He loved to talk about one day feeling the wind in his hair as he drove across the country in a motorcycle, stopping only for his day job as a WWE wrestler (a passion he shared with his brother Brent). He also talked about settling down with a wife (bonus points if it was Paula Abdul) and having his own family. But most of all, Eric dreamed of being reunited with his beloved mother. There can be no doubt they are together again.

Services include a Mass on Saturday, July 27^th at 10:30 A.M. at St. Mary of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 527 Beall Ave., Wooster, Ohio, 44691 followed by burial at the St. Mary Cemetery.  A luncheon will immediately follow in the church basement.

Memorial Contributions: St. Mary Immaculate Conception, P.O. Box 109, Wooster, Ohio 44691.

McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster, Ohio 44691 will be assisting the family.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com