Eric Thomas Unks

Eric T. Unks (Rick), 76, of Colorado Springs, CO was welcomed home into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, February 11, 2023 after a valiant and courageous battle with multiple cancers. Despite gracefully enduring and persevering through extreme suffering and pain for over five years, Rick passed peacefully surrounded by his beloved wife, children and grandchildren.

Born on October 29, 1946 in Lancaster, OH to Robert and Mary Unks, Rick was the second of five children. He spent most of his childhood in St Louis, MO where he graduated from Riverview Gardens High School in 1964 and went on to study math and music at the University of Missouri where he met many of his lifelong friends through the ATO fraternity and graduated in 1968. Not long after graduating and earning his master’s degree in secondary administration, Rick moved to Colorado Springs where he met the two most important people in his life; Jesus, to whom he devoted his life on Christmas Eve 1974, and his beautiful bride, Sharon MacElhaney whom he married on June 12, 1976.

With his faith as his foundation, Rick lived a life of selfless service initially spending over 30 years pouring into the lives of students and athletes as a high school algebra and geometry teacher and football and swimming coach both at Air Academy and Rampart High School. Rick built quite a pedigree as a teacher and coach; but more importantly, he was a positive role model as he mentored and developed young people of character. Rick cared deeply for others, and upon completing a legendary career as a teacher and coach in 2001, he continued a life of service at Focus on the Family investing in the lives and eternity of countless individuals for another 13 years before he fully retired in 2014 and continued on in a volunteer capacity both at Focus and Compassion International.

While he devoted much of his time to teaching and coaching, Rick’s pride and joy was his family. He faithfully loved Sharon for nearly 50 years, proudly bragged about his children to anybody who would listen and he absolutely adored his nine grandchildren. An avid sports fan, when he wasn’t on the sidelines you could find him in the stands at every one of his kids’ events and later on as many of the grandkids’ events that he could make along with most Air Force football and basketball games. He consistently and willingly sacrificed his own pursuits for the sake of his family and always made sure they were certain of his love and positive of his pride.

Rick will be remembered for his authenticity, humility, selflessness and genuine love. He truly pursued and valued every person with whom he came in contact as he profoundly impacted thousands of lives spanning generations. His kindness and compassion left an indelible mark on his family and the community, and he will be sorely missed.

Rick’s legacy lives on through his wife Sharon, his three children Bryan (Stephanie), Kirsten and Kevin (Lori), his brothers Steve (Luanne), John (Kathi) and Paul and his sister Sue. He also leaves behind nine wonderful grandchildren Allisyn, Nathan, Alex, Madison, Noah, Brooklyn, Kaiden, Austen and Lyncoln.

A celebration of life service will be held at Woodmen Valley Chapel Monument Campus on March 7, 2023 at 2pm with a reception to follow on site. A live stream will be available for those who are unable to attend at https://woodmenvalley.org/memorialstream.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either Focus on the Family or Compassion International at focusonthefamily.com or compassion.com.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MtViewMortuary.com for the Unks family.