Ersland, Neil "Doc" 1934-1988

ERSLAND, KEIZER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/26/2009 at 20:33:11

WESTMAR’S ERSLAND
DEAD AT 53

Neil (Doc) Ersland, 53, LeMars, longtime sports figure at Westmar College and LeMars Community Schools, died unexpectedly Thursday evening (Oct. 6, 1988) at Sioux City St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center. He had undergone surgery at the hospital.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at LeMars First Baptist Church. Rev. Gordon Rhodes will officiate and burial will be in LeMars Memorial Cemetery under the direction of the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in LeMars.

Visitation at the funeral home will be after 2 p.m. Sunday.

A well-known sports enthusiast and statistician, Doc acted as sports information director for Westmar College and traveled with the wrestling team. He had been involved with the Westmar athletic program in many ways for twenty years.

For the last ten years he was the orthopedic technician at Sioux City St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center. He was a charter member of the LeMars Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and worked many years with the LeMars Ambulance Service.

He graduated from LeMars Community High School in 1952, and from Wayne State College in 1956, with a bachelor’s degree in education, a major in physical education and minors in math and industrial arts. He also did graduate work at Western Washington State Teacher’s College in Bellingham, Wash., and additional undergraduate work at Westmar College. In 1964-65, Doc attended the University of Iowa College of Physical Therapy, returning to Westmar where he served as trainer, instructor and sports information director for nine years.

He was the son of the late Wesley and Bertha Keizer and was a member of the LeMars First Baptist Church.

After college graduation, he spent three years in the Army Medical Service and taught two years at South Sioux City and two years at Bellingham, Wash.

For many years he helped organize the LeMars Invitational Track meet.

He is survived by a cousin.

~Source: The LeMars Daily Sentinel, October 1988
~Note: From his funeral program: Date of birth, 29 Jan 1934, at Boyden, Iowa.

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