Erik was born in Thornton, Colorado. He passed away after a short, but intense battle with cancer at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri surrounded by his wife and family members. Erik was 45 years old.
The oldest of two children born to his parents Lawrence (Larry) and Roberta (Bobbie) Dienberg, Erik grew up in Longmont, Colorado and graduated from the University of Colorado. He has worked as an electrical engineer with Burns and McDonnell for fifteen years in various departments and capacities in their Colorado, Toronto, Virginia, and Kansas City offices.
Erik and his wife, Brooke, met through their church in Colorado Springs. They married in Palmer Lake, Colorado on May 27, 2007 and have lived in Kansas City for eight years.
Erik will be remembered as a man who deeply loved his wife and found great joy in being a father. His family will treasure memories of roller coaster rides, bear hugs, birthday breakfasts with dad, and the spontaneous way he planned vacations and said “yes!” to new life experiences.
He expressed his faith in Christ through generosity—like the night he was late in coming home from work because he saw a young mother on a street corner and stopped to buy her a Target gift card, or the times he gave what was in his pockets to someone in need. Erik was comfortable in his space and liked to invite people in. He enjoyed inviting friends over for burgers on the spur of the moment, sharing a beer with the guys around the backyard firepit, or hosting their church small group for weekly Bible study and meals.
Erik is survived by his wife, Brooke, and their three young daughters: Paige, Emery, and Lydia; his parents, Larry and Bobbie Dienberg; sister Karri (Aaron) McCleave and their son, Seth; mother-in-law Paula Freeman; brothers and sisters in law: Chad (Melissa) Freeman, Nick (Jenn) Freeman, Tyler (Holly) Freeman, Hope and Sarah Freeman, Abigail (Camden) Ensmenger; and seven other nieces and nephews.
Contributions in his honor may be made to Providence School of Arts, 5809 Michigan Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64130, www.providenceartskc.org or Ice Studios School of Dance, 7714 Prospect, Kansas City, MO 64132, www.icestudiosdance.org.
