Erick Hernandez

Erick Joel Hernández, 46, of Davenport, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 during a trip to visit family in Puácuaro, Michoacán, Mexico with his dad.

Erick, or Joel, as his family called him, was born on July 14, 1978 to Alma (Lety) and Inocencio (Chencho) Hernández. He was an adorable child with an angelic face and a rambunctious personality. Lety always described him as “bien caprichudo” (very stubborn, obstinate, or unyielding) which, at times, characterized him perfectly. But he was also kind, caring, sympathetic, protective, sensitive and so funny. He was a tornado of a kid, always playing hard and earning stitches and scars on a regular basis. Cartoons, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Spiderman were some of his favorite interests. And of course, fútbol, was his favorite.

Erick graduated from Davenport West High School in 1996 and was part of the boys soccer team who went to state finals his senior year. He liked to remind his teammates and best friends that he had “carried them” to state. Erick went on to attend Western Illinois University and played on the men’s soccer team with his older brother and both new and old lifelong friends. After college, he lived in St. Louis and Chicago working in marketing for various companies until 2020, when he returned to his hometown during the COVID-19 pandemic to live and work with Chencho.

Erick loved to spend time with his friends, family and his nieces. He enjoyed good food and drinks, always wanting to treat everyone to a meal or the next round. He loved music and listened to a wide and sometimes questionable variety. He loved walking to ballgames to watch the Cardinals when he lived in St. Louis. And he enjoyed watching “his soaps,” movies, documentaries and of course, fútbol. He was always up for going along to any event, holiday or get together his friends and family invited him to, even if it wasn’t something he’d choose on his own. Regardless if he ended up sitting reluctantly alone in a corner, he would be supportive in his own way. He loved to crack a joke or say whatever came to mind to make everyone around him laugh, and he was really good at it.

Sadly, Erick struggled with depression and alcoholism for many years and the diseases took him much too early. He will be sorely missed by so many people who were fortunate enough to know the Erick his family did—the Erick who was kind, caring, sympathetic, protective, sensitive, funny, loving, understanding, supportive, always there for you and to whom he gave his unconditional love.

He is survived by his father, Ino, of Davenport; brother, Eliu (Marissa), of Denver, CO; sister, Eliza (John) of Davenport and his nieces whom he loved tremendously, Adelai and Mia. Erick also leaves behind exceptionally great, close friends who have been and continue to be part of his family.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Alma (Lety) Hernández.

Visitation for Erick will be held from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport followed by a time of sharing.