Eric L. Hepler, 46, of Carmel passed away Friday, March 25th 2022, from Liposarcoma, which is a Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) type of cancer.
Born in South Bend, IN, Eric’s early years were spent playing with cousins and learning the value of family. When Eric was in the 3rd grade, his family moved to Frankfort, IL where one of the most lasting events of his life occurred. He was introduced to music. He played the saxophone in the elementary band, jazz band, and marching band. Music was an important part of Eric throughout the rest of his life.
Eric arrived in Carmel in 1989. His music career subsided as he became involved with sports. He participated in wrestling, football, and track. He became a licensed umpire, working for the Carmel Dads Club in the summer. Eric graduated from Carmel High School in 1994. He attended Purdue University from 1994-1998. He was a member of the Acacia Fraternity and an avid Boilermakers fan.
The restaurant industry was a natural fit for Eric. He started out as a busboy and later moved to serving and bartending. His time in restaurants helped him develop and hone his ability to connect with and listen to people. Eric entered the world of sales through the wine distributing industry and eventually ended up at Monster.com. During that time, he began developing the skills necessary to become a successful businessman.
The Lake! During his youth, Eric’s summer vacations, weekends and holidays revolved around a lake house owned by his grandparents. When their lake house was sold in 2000, one chapter of his life ended but another began. Shortly after that sale, Eric bought his own lake house in Angola, IN “so Grandpa Paul can go fishing any time he wants.” In a few short years it evolved into Eric’s weekend getaway. It served as his place to “reconnect” mentally and physically and unwind after a tough week at work. This became even more important as he moved into the next phase of his life.
Eric was the co-founder and CEO of Balance Claims. He was responsible for securing the majority of the initial funding for the company’s successful start-up. His business sense and people skills made Eric a respected and successful entrepreneur and businessman. Eric was highly respected by clients, business associates, and his employees alike. He became a mentor to many by listening, being compassionate, and recognizing the unique gifts of each person he worked with.
Eric married his wife, Corinne, on October 27, 2011. That was the day he also got one of the greatest gifts of his life: being Katie and Carter’s bonus dad. They were truly children of his heart. He taught them how to swim in lake water, drive a boat, be good judges of character, and how to give from their hearts.
Eric will be remembered as the person who walked into a room and instantly became everyone’s friend. When he smiled, everyone smiled with him. He had a way of making people feel special and important in every situation. The kind of compassion and love Eric put into this world cannot be replaced, but his example will help lead those remaining to share love and compassion of their own.
Eric Hepler Memorial Fundraiser benefitting the Sarcoma Foundation of America
Date: August 28, 2022
Time: 1pm – 4pm
Location: Brookshire Golf Club
12120 Brookshire Pkwy
Carmel, IN 46033
