Eric Jacob Sellmann

Eric Jacob Sellmann, 18, of Willmar, MN, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at his home. His funeral will be 11:00 am, Saturday, February 4th at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar with interment to be in Clover Leaf Memorial Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6-8 pm, Friday, February 3rd at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. www.hafh.org.  Memorials are preferred to Redeemer Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers. www.redeemerwillmar.org

Eric was born on July 30, 2004, in Coeur d’Alene, ID, the son of Mark John and Brooke Marie (née Davis) Sellmann. He was baptized into the Christian faith on July 31, 2005, at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Stanhope, NJ, and later confirmed his faith on May 5, 2019, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar, MN.

Eric attended kindergarten in York, NE, and then the family relocated to Willmar in 2011. Eric was active in the Willmar community: a member of the choir, running cross country and participating in the basketball program all at Willmar High School.  Eric was an avid supporter of all athletics and enjoyed watching his siblings play their various sports as well. He also enjoyed being part of the youth group at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Over the span of 18 years, Eric had the chance to travel the US and visit friends and family from California to Washington, Idaho, and numerous trips to New Jersey.  In the past year alone, he traveled to Texas, New York, Idaho and Washington.  He went to a NY Yankees game, visited the Statue of Liberty, and attended the LCMS National Youth Gathering in Houston, TX. 

Family and faith were extremely important to him.  Eric valued spending time with his three siblings and two nephews.  He will be remembered for having a love for church, music (particularly singing) and playing basketball.  He had much sympathy and compassion for those suffering from illness, and regularly wrote letters and made phone calls to those affected.

Eric had a dream of going to college and being a pastor.  His disability of Prader Willi syndrome prevented him from achieving that.  However, some would argue that his whole life was an example of being a pastor, by the many people whose life he touched with his joy and thoughtfulness. 

Eric is survived by his parents, Brooke and Mark Sellmann; his siblings Ashley (Eric) Williams, Heidi, and Luke; his nephews, Cedar and Atticus and maternal grandmother, Susan Myers of Spokane, WA.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John and Thelma Sellmann and maternal grandfathers, William Davis and Norman Myers.

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