Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is with deep sadness and yet joy that we share with you that our brother, pastor, and dear friend Eric Trickey has entered into glory with his beloved Savior Jesus. He passed from this life into eternity on Thursday evening, May 28, 2020.

Eric L. Trickey was installed as Senior Pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Decatur, IL) on December 27, 2015. His pioneering leadership and his enduring passion for preaching the Gospel, even as his strength diminished in his last weeks, has left an incredible footprint, not just on our family of faith or Decatur, but the world around him. Our hearts ache that we are no longer able to journey alongside of him in this life.

While we mourn the loss of our dear brother, we also rejoice in the truth that he has received full and complete healing and rest from his labors. Indeed, he has received the crown of victory and heard those beautiful words, “well done good and faithful servant”.

We ask that you would continue to pray for comfort, strength, and peace for the Trickey family as they mourn this great loss. Surviving are his wife Sara, daughter Thalassa, son Eric Jr., parents Gary and Sharon Trickey, all of Decatur. He also leaves behind brothers Matthew Trickey (Carrie) of Davenport, IA and Philip Trickey of Seattle, WA; niece Betty Trickey of Seattle, WA; father and mother-in-law: Rod and Kristine Frieling of Colorado Springs, CO; our SPL family and the other congregations he has served in his years as an LCMS pastor.

While the current limitations and guidelines related to the pandemic situation keep us from being able to gather as a large group at this time, we will have opportunities in the days and weeks ahead to mourn together and uphold one another. You can experience Pastor Eric’s final sermon he recorded during the Celebration of Life that will take place on Wednesday, June 3rd. It will air at 7:00 PM (CST) and you may view it ONLINE only at SPLDECATUR.CHURCHONLINE.ORG and in the weeks following at YOUTUBE.COM/SPLDECATUR. We look to have a much larger in person dedication and celebration in the future when it is safe to do so.