Eric Anthony Westwang, 23, died January 16, 2011 of natural causes.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles Glenn Hoff (Sheridan, WY), James B. Westwang, Sr. (Kalispell, MT) and A. Belle Westwang (Kalispell, MT). He is also preceded in death by his father, James B. Westwang, Jr. (Sheridan, WY).

He is survived by his grandmother, Arlene Hoff (Sheridan, WY). He is also survived by his mother, Linda M. Westwang (Sheridan, WY) and his sister, Ashley Anne Westwang (Laramie, WY).

Eric was born in Sheridan, WY on November 20, 1987. He went to school in Sheridan and graduated from Sheridan High School in 2006. He then attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD. His major was mechanical engineering and his intended graduation date was May 7, 2011.

He was in the process of working on a senior project that he was very excited about. He talked about his work at every opportunity. It is an underwater device that can be controlled from the surface. It is meant to take samples underwater and bring them to the surface at the same temperature and pressure. He was in the process of applying for engineering jobs around the country.

He had many interests and hobbies outside of school. Starting in 6th grade, he played trumpet and tuba. He played football for Sheridan High School and for the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology under the number 65. He was dedicated to practicing and training for this sport. Aside from playing, he also loved watching football. He would spend his Saturdays keeping track of college games from around the country, and, during the holidays, the TV was always on one bowl game or another. He had an amazing memory and could recall statistics from years prior.

He also loved studying the world. When he watched TV on days other than Saturday, it was on the discovery channel, history channel, or science channel. He could remember facts, people, and events like no one I’ve ever seen. He cared a lot about learning all this information. He also read a lot of books. He read anything from The Iliad to recent non-fiction books about economics. He absorbed all the information and thought about it. He used it to think about current events in the world, and he would get into long discussions about current events. He was one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known.

One of his favorite pastimes was watching jeopardy and playing trivia games. He would routinely answer more questions than anyone else in the family. Eric was chosen to attend the national academic challenge competition when he was a senior in high school. He also played many adventure video games.

He loved his family dearly and would travel hundreds of miles to attend events that were important to members of the family. Eric and his sister, Ashley were best friends. They rarely ever fought and helped each other through school and life. They are in every picture together and went to each other’s activities throughout school. He was extremely important to his family as well and will be missed very very much.

Visitation for Eric will be at 6:00 pm, on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at Kane Funeral Home.

Services will be at 10:00 am, Monday, January 24, 2011, at Kane Funeral Home, with Reverend Don Derryberry officiating, internment will be in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.

Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

The Sheridan Press - January 22, 2011.