Obituary of Eberhard Hoerling

Eberhard Hoerling passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in Kuna, Idaho on September 5, 2020, after a courageous year-long battle with cancer. Born in Steinheim, Germany on March 11, 1951, “Eb” as he was affectionately called, was the first son of Lothar and Rita Hoerling.

He learned farming and horsemanship almost at birth, tending to the many responsibilities on the family homestead that dated to the 19^th Century and had proud local roots to centuries earlier. Eb is best remembered as a pioneering American, however. His parents emigrated to the New World to lay the foundations for a more prosperous future for the family in 1963, and Eb with his brother Martin (7 yrs younger) joined the parents in April 1964, arriving in New York, aboard Pan Am, after the parents had settled on Long Island, having arrived the prior year aboard the steamship S.S. Bremen. 

Always industrious, he landed a job as a teen for the local paper Newsday, and won best carrier award and a trip to Boston in 1966. He also worked at the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Queens, beside his Father. Love came his way early, marrying Ms. Carolyn Fasini, in May 1973. He and his new bride soon settled in their home in Farmingdale, Long Island. His love of people, an irrepressible sense of humor and a natural ease of communicating served him well and also helped propel career opportunities. First in sales and eventually in executive positions with international containership companies that included Norton Lilly, Kerr, and K-Line. Eb, with his natural international skills, served at the frontlines of laying the ground work for what is now known as globalization. These were exciting times for Eb and Carolyn, and they moved in tandem with his career growth to Chicago, Memphis, Houston, and eventually Los Angeles. He truly lived the American dream, pulling himself up from modest immigrant boot-straps to becoming an American success story.  But his greatest pride was in the birth of their children, first twins Krista (now Krista Wilhelms) and Keith, on St. Patrick’s Day 1981, and Scott almost three years later. 

Life would challenge Eb in later years, but never undermine his love for family. After divorce, he met his partner Cheri Detwiler, in 2003, with whom he enjoyed a loving relationship till his passing. He and Cheri set up a new homestead in Idaho in 2019, and were looking forward to many new shared experiences. Cheri was with Eb at his passing and had cared lovingly for him in his battle with cancer. 

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes your contributions to the American Cancer Society. He is survived by his children: Keith Hoerling of Los Angeles, California, Krista Wilhelms, of Baltimore, Maryland, and Scott Hoerling of Mission Viejo, California; his brother, Martin Hoerling, of Boulder, Colorado; and his granddaughter Bella Moon, born November 14, 2019.

Remembrances may be left for Eb’s family on his web page at www.AccentFuneral.com. Services are under the care of Accent Funeral Home and Cremation, Meridian. 208-888-5833.