It’s hard fit an Uncle into a box. Some are like a second father to us, others the fun one who gives us questionable advice. Some you only saw at Christmas but somehow they still were a big part of your life. So when you have to sum up an uncles life in a few short paragraphs it can feel impossible.
I put this guide together to make it a little easier. Below you’ll find obituary examples for an uncle covering all sorts of situations, from short newspaper notices to fuller tributes, plus a look at what to include and a few tips for making it work.
What to Include in an Uncle’s Obituary
An obituary is really just a very short life story. It announces the death, honors the person and lets people know about any services. You don’t need to include everything just the details that matter most.
This is what most obituaries for an uncle tend to cover:
- Full name and nickname – his given name plus whatever the family actually called him. “Uncle Bud” should be in there if that’s who he was
- Age and dates – his date of birth and date of passing and often his hometown
- How he died – this is optional. “Peacefully” or “after a long illness” or “unexpectedly” is enough. You never have to share more than you want to
- Family – who he leaves behind and who preceded him in death. As an uncle he’ll likely be survived by nieces, nephews, siblings and possibly his own children and grandchildren
- Life and work – his career, military service, hobbies, faith, the things that made him him
- Personality – a sentence or two on what people will remember. His humor, his kindness, his terrible jokes etc.
- Service details – the date, time and location of the funeral or memorial plus any request for flowers or charitable donations
About length: most newspaper obituaries are between 200 and 400 words, partly because papers often charge by the line and a longer notice can cost several hundred dollars. Online obituaries have no such limit so you can be as full as you like there.
If you want more help before you start our obituary templates are worth looking at too.
Short Obituary Examples for an Uncle
Sometimes short is right. A brief notice works well for a newspaper announcement, a funeral program of even an online death notice where you only need the essentials. These are simple and easy to adapt.
[Full Name], age [age], of [city, state], passed away peacefully on [date]. He was a loving uncle, brother and friend who will be dearly missed. He is survived by his siblings, nieces and nephews. A service will be held at [location] on [date]. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [charity].
******************
[Full Name] “[Nickname]” [Last Name], [age], of [city], died on [date] after a courageous battle with illness. Known for his warm heart and quick wit, he brought joy to everyone around him. He leaves behind his devoted family and countless friends. A celebration of his life will take place at [location] on [date] at [time].
******************
Our beloved uncle, [Full Name], passed away on [date] at the age of [age]. He was a man of great kindness who treated every niece and nephew like his own. He is survived by [names] and preceded in death by [names]. Visitation will be held at [location]. The family is grateful for your love and support during this difficult time.
If a short announcement is all you’re after right now our guide to death announcements has more wording you can use.
Traditional Obituary Examples for an Uncle
A fuller obituary gives you room to tell his story properly. These longer examples follow the usual structure most families use, announcement, life story, family, then service details. They work well for a funeral home website or a longer newspaper notice.
A Warm, All-Round Tribute
[Full Name], [age], of [city, state], passed away peacefully on [date] surrounded by his family.
Born on [date of birth] in [birthplace], [First Name] was the son of [parents’ names]. He spent [number] years working as a [profession], a job he loved and took great pride in. Outside of work he was happiest [hobby or passion], and he never turned down the chance to share a story or a laugh.
To his nieces and nephews he was so much more than an uncle. He was the one who showed up, who remembered every birthday and who always had time for a phone call. His generosity and his sense of humor made every family gathering brighter.
[First Name] is survived by his [spouse, if any], his siblings [names], and his many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by [names].
A funeral service will be held at [location] on [date] at [time], followed by a burial at [cemetery]. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to [charity] in his memory.
******************
An Obituary That Is About His Character
[Full Name] “[Nickname]”, [age], left us on [date], and the world got a little quieter without him.
Born in [birthplace] on [date], [First Name] lived life on his own terms. He was a [profession] by trade but a storyteller by nature, and anyone who spent five minutes with him walked away with a grin and probably a new nickname. He loved [hobby], strong coffee and being right, though not always in that order.
Above all he cherished his family. As an uncle he was equal parts mischief and wisdom, the kind of man who would teach you to fish and then let you take all the credit for the catch. His door was always open and his fridge was always stocked.
He is survived by his siblings, his nieces and nephews, and a wide circle of friends who felt like family. He was preceded in death by his parents, [names].
Friends are invited to celebrate his life at [location] on [date] at [time]. Bring your favorite story about him, he’d have wanted the good ones told.
Obituary for an Uncle Who Was Like a Father
For a lot of us an uncle plays a much bigger role in our lives than the title suggests. Maybe he raised you or was the steady man you looked up to when you needed one.
[Full Name], [age], of [city], passed away on [date], leaving a hole in our family that words can’t quite fill.
To many he was an uncle, but to me and my siblings he was so much more. He stepped up when we needed him, taught us how to be decent people and never once made us feel like a burden. He came to the games, the graduations and the ordinary Tuesdays, and he loved us like his own.
[First Name] worked as a [profession] for [number] years and gave the same steady effort to everything he did. He is survived by the family who adored him, including the nieces and nephews he raised as if they were his children.
A service celebrating his life will be held at [location] on [date]. We were so lucky to have had him.
If you’re speaking at the service too, you might find my eulogy examples for an uncle helpful, since a eulogy gives you far more room to share the personal stories an obituary can’t hold.
Obituary for an Uncle Who Died Suddenly
A sudden loss is always terrible. But you don’t have to explain the cause if you’d rather not. “Unexpectedly” is fine.
[Full Name], [age], of [city, state], passed away unexpectedly on [date]. His loss has left his family and friends heartbroken and struggling to believe he’s gone.
[First Name] was full of life right up until the end. He loved [hobby], he loved his people and he had a way of making an ordinary day feel like an occasion. As an uncle he was generous with his time and his laughter, and he’ll be remembered for both.
He is survived by his siblings, nieces, nephews and a community of friends who loved him dearly. A memorial service will be held at [location] on [date] at [time]. The family kindly asks for privacy as they grieve this sudden loss.
Obituary for an Uncle Who Was a Veteran
If your uncle served in the military then his obituary is a chance to honor that. A line about his branch or his years of service or an award he received tells readers something important about the kind of man he was.
[Full Name], [age], of [city], passed away on [date]. A proud veteran of the [branch of service], he served his country honorably from [year] to [year] before returning home to build a life full of purpose.
[First Name] carried the values of his service into everything, loyalty, discipline and a quiet strength his family relied on. To his nieces and nephews he was a hero long before anyone pinned a medal on him.
He is survived by his family and his brothers and sisters in arms. Military honors will be rendered at [location] on [date]. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to [veterans’ charity] in his name.
We have a more obituary examples for a veteran if military service was a big part of who he was.
A Celebration of Life Obituary for a Fun Loving Uncle
Not every obituary has to be solemn and sad. If your uncle was the loud, life of the party type then a lighter tone can honor him far better than a formal notice would. A little humor is allowed too.
[Full Name] “[Nickname]”, [age], of [city], threw one last curveball and left us on [date]. Anyone who knew him is smiling and crying at the same time, which is exactly how he’d want it.
[First Name] never met a stranger, a barbecue he didn’t rule or a card game he’d admit to losing. He loved [team], he loved [hobby] and he loved his family loudest of all. As an uncle he was pure fun, the one who’d sneak you an extra slice of cake and swear you to secrecy.
He is survived by the family who’ll spend years quoting him, his siblings, nieces and nephews, and more friends than any funeral home can hold. Come celebrate his life at [location] on [date] at [time]. Wear bright colors, bring your best story and leave the sad faces at home.
Obituary Example from a Niece or Nephew’s Perspective
If you’re the one writing and you want the obituary to have your own voice as his niece or nephew that’s understandable. It comes across a little more personal, more like a tribute than a notice.
We lost our wonderful uncle, [Full Name], on [date] at the age of [age], and our family will never be quite the same.
Uncle [First Name] was a constant in our lives. He was there for the milestones and the mundane, always with a bad joke ready and a genuine interest in how we were really doing. He taught us [something he taught], he spoiled us when our parents weren’t looking and he loved us without condition.
He is survived by his siblings and by all of us, the nieces and nephews lucky enough to call him ours. A service will be held at [location] on [date]. Thank you, Uncle [First Name], for everything. We’ll carry you with us.
Tips for Making His Obituary Personal
The examples above are a good starting point but the obituaries people remember are the ones that really reflect the person. A few things can help with that:
- Use his actual nickname. If the whole family called him Uncle Buck, “Robert” alone won’t feel like him. Put both in
- Pick one or two specific details. Not “he loved the outdoors” but “he could name every bird at the feeder and got weirdly competitive about it.” Specifics bring him to life on the page
- Say how he made people feel. Careers and dates matter but readers remember the man. Was he the calm one, the funny one, the one who always picked up the phone when you needed him?
- Read it out loud before you finalize it. Your ear will catch what your eye doesn’t and it helps you hear whether it sounds right
- Ask the family. A cousin or sibling will remember a story you’ve forgotten
A Short Verse to Close an Uncle’s Obituary
Some families like to end an obituary with a few lines of verse. You can use a favorite quote of his, a line of scripture or something simple like this original piece.
but by the quiet ways he loved and how he stayed the same.
He taught us, teased us, showed us how a good man ought to be,
and though he’s gone, he lingers still in every memory.
If you’d like more our collection of funeral poems has many more readings and verses to choose from.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you write in an obituary for an uncle?
An obituary for an uncle usually includes his full name and nickname, his age and dates, a short account of his life and work, the family who survive him and the details of any service. As an uncle he’s often survived by siblings, nieces and nephews, so those relationships are worth putting in. A sentence about his personality, the humor or kindness people will remember, is what makes it feel like him.
How long should an uncle’s obituary be?
Most obituaries are between 200 and 400 words. Newspapers often charge by the line so a printed notice is usually short while an online obituary can be as long as you like. A short version works well for an announcement and a fuller version is better for a funeral program or memorial website.
Is an obituary the same as a eulogy for an uncle?
No, they’re different. An obituary is a written notice that announces the death and shares service details, usually published in a paper or online. A eulogy is a spoken tribute delivered at the funeral.
You can go more into the distinction in our post on the differences between a eulogy and an obituary.
How do you start an obituary for an uncle?
Most obituaries open with the announcement itself, his name, age, hometown and the date he passed. Something like “[Full Name], [age], of [city], passed away peacefully on [date].” From there you move into his life story.
Can you write an obituary for an uncle who was like a father?
Absolutely. If your uncle raised you or was a father type of figure it’s completely appropriate to say so in the obituary. Many families write that he “loved his nieces and nephews as his own” or that he “stepped up when we needed him most.” Honesty about what he meant to you is what makes something like this work.
Final Thoughts
Writing an obituary for an uncle is a difficult job. You’re trying to fit a man, with all his quirks and kindnesses, into a few sentences. You won’t get everything but don’t worry. Nobody expects you to.
Use whichever of these examples feels closest to your uncle, put in your details that make it right for him and trust that the love comes through.
