ERICKSON, Paul S. "Sherm" 1909-1999

ERICKSON, PORTER, JORDAN, GOLAND, JONES

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 8/28/2010 at 08:41:29

Decorah Journal, Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999

Paul S. Erickson

Paul S. "Sherm" Erickson, 90, of Cedar Falls, died Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999, at the Lutheran Home of natural causes.

There were no services or visitation as his body was donated to the University of Iowa, Department of Anatomy. The Richardson Funeral Home handled arrangements.

He was born July 25, 1909, in Decorah, the son of Andrew and Carrie Lynne Erickson.

He married Eleanor H. Porter Dec. 21, 1936, in Stockton, Illinois. She died April 19, 1992.

As a young man, Paul was confirmed at the Hesper Lutheran Church. He received a bachelor's degree from Luther College in 1932. While in college, he delivered ice for Dirks Ice Company. His good singing voice enabled him to sing with a barbershop quartet.

After graduation, he taught school at Northboro, Iowa, where he met his future wife, Eleanor Porter.

Sherm accepted a position with the International Harvester Company, Motor Truck Division. Then he became a salesman for Simpson Dodge in Waterloo.
While living in Cedar Falls, he operated and owned Erickson Motor Company, a Dodge and Plymouth dealership, from 1948-68, when he retired. He was past president of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association.

He was a lover of horses and, consequently, his daughters participated in local horse shows when they were young. Other leisure activities for the family included ski trips to the Colorado mountains.

He attended the Erickson family reunion at Pinebluff 4-H Camp in Decorah July 25 of this year. This was the actual day of his 90th birthday and he was welcomed royally by the 75 relatives.

Survivors include his three daughters, Lynne Jordan of Cedar Falls, Nancy Goland of Van Nuys, Calif., and Sigrid Jones of Winnetka, Calif.; three grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren; and a special friend, Pat Poage of Cedar Falls.

Paul "Sherm" Erickson was preceded in death by his wife, one sister, and seven brothers.

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