Sersland, Howard I. -- 1931 - 1998

SERSLAND, CLINE, BOSTROM, JOHNSON

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/16/2010 at 11:14:12

Decorah Journal, Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998

.............Press Time Bulletin

HOWARD I. SERSLAND, 67, of Decorah, died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah following a short illness.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 2, at 11 a.m. at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah with the Rev. Kim Smith officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.

The family will greet friends Friday, Jan. 1, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Fjelstul Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Karol, one daughter, Cheryl Cline of Decorah; two sons, Keith of Santa Barbara, Calif. and Ron of Reedsburg, Wis.; five grandchildren; one brother, Walter of Monona; one sister, Marolyn Bostrom of West Union; and an aunt, Florence Johnson of Decorah.
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Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, January 5, 1999

Howard Sersland

Howard Sersland, 67, of Decorah, died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital following complications from surgery one month earlier.

A memorial service was held Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, at 11 a.m., at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, with the Rev. Kim Smith officiating.

Pallbearers were Jason, Nathan and Kevin Cline and Eric Taylor. Honorary bearers were members of Howard's birthday group, fellow bus drivers and former ballplayer friends.

Interment was at the Washington Prairie Cemetery. The Fjelstul Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Howard was born Feb. 9, 1931, in Decorah, at the Smith Memorial Hospital, the son of Hillman and Irene (Olson) Sersland.

He was baptized March 15, 1931, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. Howard attended Decorah schools until 1942, when the family moved to the present family farm in Decorah Township, Winneshiek County. He then attended the rural one-room school No. 9.

Then he attended and graduated from Decorah High School in 1949. While in high school, he was active in football and baseball. He lettered all four years in baseball.

During his youth, Howard was a member of the Decorah Kilties, FFA and 4-H. He showed registered Holsteins at the county fair and at Waterloo.

Howard had many fond memories of playing baseball and fast pitch softball in the Tri-State area during the summers of his younger years. He continued to stay in contact with many of the guys he played with. He enjoyed reminiscing about tournaments and strategy.

Howard was united in marriage with Karol Benson, a Minnesota girl, Aug. 9, 1959, at Washington Prairie Church.

The family farm is where Howard worked with a herd of registered Holsteins until 1984, when a herd dispersal was held. He continued farming the land until 1992, when the machinery was sold and the land was rented.

However, Howard and Karol continued to live on the farm until Nov. 17, 1998.

During his last years, Howard enjoyed driving school bus for the Decorah Community Schools. It allowed him to drive for many athletic teams, which meant he could see his grandsons participate in sports. He also developed a new group of friends.

Howard was a lifetime member of Washington Prairie Church, where he served as church officer, trustee, usher and member of several committees. He was confirmed at Washington Prairie May 13, 1945, and was active in Luther League.

He served many years as a leader for the Springfield Choreboys 4-H club. He also received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award from the Decorah Jaycees and received the Honorary Chapter Farmer degree from the Decorah FFA in 1978.

Howard had a skill in being able to talk with anyone from anywhere at any time. He enjoyed making people laugh. He liked following local sports teams as well as the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Twins and the Iowa State Cyclones.

Survivors include his wife, Karol; two sons and one daughter, Keith (Alexis) Sersland of Granada Hill, Calif., Cheryl (Dennis) Cline of Decorah; and Ron Sersland of Baraboo, Wis.; grandchildren, Rachel Sersland, Jason, Nathan and Kevin Cline and Eric and Karen Taylor; a brother, Walter (Sonja) Sersland of Monona; a sister, Marolyn (Gary) Bostrom of West Union; and an aunt, Florence Johnson of Decorah; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Howard Sersland was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Sandy Sersland.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa