Eric A. Pullum

Eric A. Pullum

July 10, 1963 – January 14, 2022

Preceded in death by parents, Loren and Genevieve Pullum; mother-in-law Lucie Bockmann and sister-in-law Gayl Bockmann.  Survived by loving wife, Lisa Pullum: brothers Marc (Jane) Pullum; Paul (Ann) Pullum; Philip (Kathy) Pullum; sisters Vivette (Sid) Ashen-Brenner; Michelle (Mike) Lawyer; father-in-law Jim (Pam) Bockmann; brother-in-law Jeff (Dawn) Bockmann and David Bockmann; sister-in-law Jamie (Kevin) Sculley.  Many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

VISITATION Wed., Jan 19, 2022m 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. West Center Chapel followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7p.m. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL Thursday, Jan 20, 2022, 10:00a.m. Our Lady of Carter Lake Catholic Church, 3501 N. 9th St in Carter Lake, IA. INTERMENT: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Omaha, NE. Memorials may be directed to Gabriel’s Corner, CB, IA.


Eric was born on Wednesday, July 10, 1963, in Omaha, Nebraska to Loren A. and Genevieve J. Pullum and was welcomed into the family by his four older siblings Vivette, Marc, Paul and Michelle. Three years later his younger brother Philip joined the Pullum’s.
Raised in what was at the time “far west Omaha” in the Rockbrook neighborhood, Eric was a typical neighborhood kid amongst the 43 other kids that lived on his block at the time. He was well known for his prowess as the consummate “ghost in the grave yard” winner, he had a reputation as the super-fast kid who was able to climb trees and telephone poles to unimaginable heights, he was the Marshall of the neighborhood 4th of July bike parades, the “Mayor of Munchkin Ville” in the block reenactment of the Wizard of Oz, and was the builder and head driver of the fastest go-cart around (that did not have an engine), not to mention following Marc and Paul’s footsteps as the neighborhood paper boy. As Eric grew older, he took a real interest in working with his hands, he loved the outdoors, and could often be found working for the neighbor who owned a lawn service or tinkering in the garage on something with the set of tools and toolbox that Santa left on the front doorstep (well actually from the neighbor next door from whom Eric learned how to turn a wrench and pound a hammer). An All-American 70’s suburban kid, with the blondest of blond hair and a smile that was ear to ear.
As Eric continued to get older, he took on the Pullum work ethic that was second to none and mastered the Pullum stubborn streak as well. A young man of principal, Eric was rooted in family, faith, and the value of working to do a job well done and one he could take pride in. Eric was a worker and he found pride in that. Eric had a true pull-yourself-up by the bootstrap’s mentality from a very young age. He always had a stash of cash in his sock drawer that was a symbol of his hard-working nature. He was the first in our family to have a real nice stereo system, he paid for the majority of his first car (who will ever forget the 76 Ford Pinto with the Starsky and Hutch swoosh stripe and the white wall mag wheels, he paid for braces and his college education (not because Mom and Dad couldn’t or wouldn’t but because that is the way Eric wanted it and that was how it was gonna be!). Eric loved to work.
He had a never quit streak in him that pushed him through a childhood illness that kept him out of Jr. High for a year, allowed him to graduate from a rigorous course of studies at Creighton Prep High School and to go on to earn two college degrees. He was bound and determined to be his own man. Industrious and motivated by a desire to learn and to do for himself. Eric was determined to forge his way by his rules, and he did. He had a successful career for years straight out of college as a young man in the retail merchandising industry, running several stores as the store manager for a large national retailer and as the General Manager of a local chain. In his later career, he learned the mortgage lending and servicing industry working alongside his younger brother for many years, branching off to become a mortgage loan officer and developing his own mortgage services company. Most recently, Eric was a team-leader of the mortgage servicing division of a very large national bank and had his sights set on an early retirement next year. Along the way Eric was also a self-taught handy man, electrician, plumber, car mechanic, excellent Chef and BBQ pit master. When he set his mind to it, he was going to learn it and get it done. His tenacity was something to be truly jealous of!
Eric guarded his emotions on the outside but was a lover and giver at heart. Eric most of all was about family. He might have been called a mamma’s boy at times, but that is a nickname that he would wear as a badge of honor, he loved her with all his heart. He strived his entire life to emulate his hero, his father, and did a fantastic job of it, putting family first. Eric did his best to follow the examples and principles that he cherished in his dad. Having unique and special relationships with each of his siblings, he was the brother that would always be there for you, no matter what, and never asked for anything in return. To him, family mattered. Eric loved being an uncle to his nephews and nieces; he doted on them like they were his own kids. As generous as one could be with his time and treasure, those kids meant the world to him.
In his 30’s Eric met Lisa and embarked on married life and turned his attention to being side-by-side with her. He longed for closeness with others and found true love with Lisa and being her husband became the cornerstone of his life. They built a beautiful life together, while they did not children, they were a family unto themselves and blended their family with that of their siblings and their friends. They loved to travel and enjoyed many vacations; including Europe with trips to the Vatican that meant so much to them as well as American standards such as Las Vegas and Nashville. Eric and Lisa called home many places be it Omaha, Cancun, or Ashland and created a sense of home and family wherever they were. Spending time at their Villa in Mexico was always something to look forward to for Eric; entertaining many friends and family created so many memories for them and he loved the ocean and the warm weather. Having family over for soup nights, hot tub and deck parties at their Omaha home were highlights over the years for all. Eric’s favorite place was his Lake Home. He and Lisa spent much of their time there transforming a house that was not so well kept when they found it, to a gorgeous home that they built from the ground-up and created lifelong stories and memories. Eric’s heart and soul are reflected by his love of horse racing in the Cordis Vagis statue in the front, a lush garden, as well has his grandmother’s oil paintings in the Lani where he loved to look out on the lake.
Eric lived a good life, on his own terms, spent doing the things he loved. A man of principal and honor, he was devoted to his extended family and his loving wife. Rooted in his strong Catholic faith and his Jesuit education, Eric was the embodiment of Ad majorem Dei gloriam (For the greater glory of God) and lived the creed of being “a man for others”.

 

14 Comments

  • Jetta King Posted January 18, 2022 4:17 pm

    My dear Lisa, I am so sorry to hear about Eric’s passing. I remember at your dad’s birthday party at Casios he want the recipe for my mom’s homade spaghetti sauce..he was so eager to make it just perfect. He’s now visiting with his mom, dad and your mom…and has probably met my mom also. May he rest in peace. I love you my sweet cousin. Please know I may not be there in person but I’m standing right beside you in your heart

  • Vivette Ashen-Brenner Posted January 18, 2022 4:17 pm

    My brother was a great brother, and a wonderful man

  • Isabel Alvarez Posted January 18, 2022 4:55 pm

    My deepest condolences, us at First American Title Co. will miss him immensely. May God comfort your family during this difficult time, our prayers are with his wife and loving family.

  • Mariana and Dick Nieman Posted January 18, 2022 5:23 pm

    We are so very sorry to hear about Eric passing.
    Our prayers and sympathy are with you during this difficult time🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

  • Joni Geurts Posted January 18, 2022 6:20 pm

    Lisa I’m so sad to hear about Eric. My heart breaks for you. Sending prayers to you and your family.

  • AUDREY AGUILAR Posted January 18, 2022 7:04 pm

    My sincerest condolences to The Pullum Family he was a pleasure to work with for many years such a stand up incredible man. Eric made some the hardest days so much better thank you for the years and you will never be forgotten May God Bless your soul and Your family at this time. Eric you will always be in my thoughts and prayers

  • Virginia and Doug Spurlock Posted January 18, 2022 7:15 pm

    I am so sorry for your family’s loss.

  • Pam and Dan Deller Posted January 19, 2022 6:21 am

    Dea Lisa,
    Pam and I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to you and all of you and Eric’s families. We will always remember and cherish the fond memories of our fun times together in Cancun. Eric was nice, fun-loving guy and we are all going to miss him and his jolly personality. May your many happy memories help to ease the pain of your great loss and keep Eric alive forever in your heart. Peace and love to you and yours.
    Lovingly, your Cancun friends Dan and Pam Deller ✝️❤🙏

  • Dorothy Gmyrek Posted January 19, 2022 11:37 am

    I am sad to hear of the loss of Eric. We enjoyed the many times visiting and playing Mexican lotteria in Cancun. May he and Jim meet in heaven as they were both men of great faith. I hope to meet you again in Cancun.

  • Barbara Brundo Posted January 19, 2022 1:39 pm

    I have grateful thoughts of Eric A. Pullum the “mobile notary” traveling to the former Blessed Sacrament School with the BOOK BINGO (TM) Fair Use Agreement for faculty and staff signatures assuring successful use of the donated reading games. A kindness appreciated, job well done… April 2006.

    To the Pullum family, thank you for sharing his beautiful life story. Now I understand it was his very being to be nice. I am so sorry for your loss.
    Barbara Brundo, Ed.D.

  • Mary Beth Lindsay Posted January 19, 2022 2:39 pm

    Our deepest condolences on Eric’s passing! As part of that Rockbrook gang in the 60’s and 70’s, I can attest to claims of his speed and prowess.

    Mary Beth Garbina Lindsay

  • Jacqueline Hegarty Posted January 19, 2022 5:50 pm

    We are very sorry to hear of Eric’s passing. Our sympathy to all of you. Dan, Jackie and Stephen Hegarty

  • Bob Klein Posted January 20, 2022 10:15 am

    Dear Pullum family, We wish to express our sympathy to all of you. We remember Eric as a quiet, polite, hard working young man. We also remember him as the dependable paper boy in the Dolls Rockbrook neighborhood. As years passed, he was a loving caring son to his widowed mother. May God bless you as you mourn his passing. The Klein family

  • Mike, Tammy, Morgan and Paige Bennett Posted January 20, 2022 10:29 am

    We are so saddened to hear of Eric’s passing. We will fondly remember our past antics. The write up put a smile on my face as that Pinto was something we spent time in at Prep and occasionally cruising Dodge Street.
    Our deepest sympathy goes out to you all.

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