Eric Alan Kroczek of Muncie, IN, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, IN, with Rev David Kime officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 am - 11:00 am Thursday at the funeral chapel.
Surviving are his sister Kelly Kroczek, brother Scott Kroczek, and father Stephen Kroczek; six nieces and nephew, Vivien Wall, Izzy Wall, Charlotte Wall, Laura Kroczek, Emily Kroczek, and Alex Kroczek; and one great nephew, Westin Kroczek. He was preceded in death by his mother, Judith Kroczek.
After attending St. Mary’s grade school, Eric graduated from Marquette High School, where he was awarded the honor of National Merit Scholar. He earned a Bachelor of Arts at Wabash College, majoring in English and graduating in 1992. After college, Eric earned a culinary arts degree in Pittsburgh, PA. Then he spent several years teaching English in Korea and China. Later, he spent many years in the restaurant and food service industry, most recently at Ball State University.
A favorite professor says of Eric, “He was an exceptional student of mine. His wit, his kindness, his brilliance shone.” Over the years, he remained close with many of his high school and college friends. To his cohort of Wabash alumni, he was sometimes a gentleman, especially when it mattered, and was always a scholar. Eric loved to write and create art; his essay “Charlie Trotter and the Culinary Cult of Personality <https://therumpus.net/2013/12
Eric also loved animals and over the years was the doting parent of five rescue animals: Francis, Bernard, Moses, Honey, and Jackson. Gardening was in his DNA, especially for vegetables (like his father) and daylilies (like his beloved late mother). He was a voracious reader and wrote such perceptive book reviews that publishers sought him out. Above all, Eric had a long-standing relationship with Cathy Day, and they sometimes traveled together across the U.S. and to Iceland, but mostly, they stayed home, and he made gourmet meals for her every night.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Eric’s memory to the Muncie Arts Council or Muncie Animal Care and Services.
Link to donate to the Muncie Arts Council:
<https://www.munciearts.org/do
Link to donate to MACS:
<https://www.muncie.in.gov/top
To sign a guest book and leave condolences online visit our website at
www.otthaverstock.com.
