Born on February 17, 1907 in Buckeburg, Schaumberg-Lippe, Germany to Wilhelm and Matilda Waltemade.
Died on August 14, 1992 in Lincoln, NE. Buried in Geneva Cemetery.
Married Margaret (Peg) Casburn on November 25, 1938.
They had no children.
Eric was 3 ½ years old when he came with his family to the United States in 1910.
They settled in Ohiowa, then Strang, then Geneva in 1915.
Eric graduated from Geneva High School in 1926.
While in high school, he worked at the Meridian Cafe.
He attended Kearney State Teachers College and graduated in 1931.
For two years, he taught seventh and eight grade in North Loup.
In 1933, he returned to Geneva to work with his father at Waltemade Cleaners at 874 G Street.
In April of 1939, Eric and Peg opened Eric’s Cafe at 126 No. 9th. They ran the cafe for 32 years.
Eric built the counters and much of the furniture in the cafe, with Frank Murphy building the booths.
Their specialties were chocolate dry malts, homemade pie, and hot beef sandwiches.
He was a longtime member of the Methodist Church.
He had many friends, young and old, who enjoyed seeing him on his bicycle and could depend on him for fun conversations and good-natured kidding.