Eric Smoyer

Eric Smoyer, resident of Omaha, passed away on April 22, 2024 at the age of 36 after multiple years bravely battling advanced melanoma.

Eric, a Cybersecurity Informaticist and Physical Therapist at OrthoNebraska, is survived by his beloved dog, Izzy; his parents, Kevin and Sandra (Beck) Smoyer of Phillips; brother, Matthew and his wife, Gina, of Omaha; brother, Brent and his wife, Elizabeth, of Omaha; as well as niece, Elliott, and nephews, Lawrence and Arthur.

Eric was born in Aurora on Oct. 22, 1987. A 2006 alumni of Grand Island Northwest High, Eric went on to excel in the High Jump and study athletic training before graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2010. After a brief stint as an athletic trainer for Lincoln Southeast High, he capped his academic career with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Eric would later return to his home state of Nebraska and spent the next several years at OrthoNebraska treating patients and athletes as a physical therapist and athletic trainer before ultimately turning his passion for technology into an unexpected new career path and transitioning to the head of cybersecurity within OrthoNebraska’s cybersecurity department. The accolades Eric accumulated throughout his career are extensive, with the most recent being awarded “Employee of the Year 2023” for OrthoNebraska.

Eric was a beloved dog dad, son, brother…but most of all an uncle. He loved spending time with his nephews and niece any time he could. He often enjoyed covering rodeo events as part of the OrthoNebraska Sports Medicine Team. Away from work you could often find him out in his yard, making certain no weed would survive his perfectly manicured lawn. He was happiest when he was cooking any of his Food Network finds or working on one of his many home projects, and above all he loved spending time with family and friends.

Eric is preceded in death by his grandparents, Lowell and Helen Smoyer of Fullerton and Albin and Alyce Beck of Clarks; as well as his aunts and uncles, Mary (Smoyer) Holdorff, Phyllis (Smoyer) Schroeder, Douglas Smoyer and Timothy Smoyer.

Family will receive friends on Friday, April 26, from 4-5:30 p.m. at Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel with a Vigil Service at 5:30 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church (5419 N 114th St, Omaha, NE). Rev. Ryan Lewis will officiate.

Eric will be interred with family at Calvary Cemetery in Clarks. Memorials may be directed to the family. To view a live broadcast of the Vigil Service and Funeral Mass, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and press the “View Live Cast” button.