Sersland, Ron 1960 - 2024

SERSLAND, BENSON, SETZER, MORENO, TAYLOR, CLINE, LYNCH

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 10:50:51

Our hearts are sad to share the unfortunate news that Ron Sersland, age 63, of Reedsburg, Wis., formerly of Decorah, died on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 in a devastating car accident.

A man who dedicated his entire life to his family and the dairy industry, Ron will be remembered as a loving, supportive, hard-working, dedicated, passionate, smart, and humorous Christian who was a friend to so many people around the world.

The son of Howard and Karol (Benson) Sersland, Ron was born June 30, 1960,
and raised on a registered Holstein farm near Decorah, Iowa. A proud graduate of
Iowa State University, he completed a Dairy Science degree. After college, Ron
began working in the dairy artificial insemination industry. He became fluent in
Spanish and Portuguese. Since 1986, Ron traveled extensively outside of the
U.S., developing and nurturing relationships with international distributors and
dairy producers. Holstein cows have taken Ron to more than 50 different
countries.
Ron married Sandy Setzer in 1990. In 1991, Ron and Sandy Sersland began Our
Help, Inc. as a part-time business. The Sersland’s founded Our Help to assist
international customers that wanted to acquire hard-to-get items. Unfortunately,
Sandy Sersland passed away in 1994. Ron married Nelly Moreno on Aug. 18,
2000, in Nelly’s home country of Colombia.
Ron continued to grow Our Help as a service business centered on the
company’s philosophy of providing customers with quality products while
providing excellent customer service. In 1999, Our Help purchased International
Protein Sires (IPS). For the last 25 years, Ron has been IPS CEO and President,
which he owned with his wife, Nelly. IPS has shipped semen to over 40 different
countries and has worked with some of the largest agricultural companies and
dairy cooperatives around the world. Domestically, semen has been marketed
through an extensive network of employees and distributors. Ron has been
involved in every aspect of IPS.
It was very rewarding for Ron to see milking daughters from IPS bulls performing
well for breeders around the world. Meeting new people and determining how
IPS might assist them with their goals was his passion. Developing friendships
with so many people was the root of Ron’s business. His contributions to the
dairy industry were recognized when he received the 2021 Marlowe Nelson
Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin Holstein Association.
Ron was the third generation to own and operate his family’s Iowa farm. Ron and
Nelly’s daughter, Bailey, became involved in 4-H because of her Dad’s influence.
He was proud that Bailey showed dairy cattle, just as he did. Outside of work,
Ron was a very proud husband and father and boasted to everyone about Nelly
and Bailey. He loudly cheered for Bailey at swim meets, school events and
anything that Bailey was involved in. Ron cared deeply for Nelly and Bailey; he
always put them first. He could always provide his family with a different
perspective on life, especially when things looked challenging.
Ron is survived by his wife, Nelly; daughter, Bailey; stepson, Eric (Karen) Taylor;
sister, Cheryl (Dennis) Cline; mother-in-law, Armida Moreno; brother-in-law,
Duber (Sandra) Moreno; special cousin, Judy (Mike) Lynch; godchildren, Isla,
Angie, Jazleah, and Nicolas; special friends, Scott and Nancy Armbrust; stepgrandchildren,
Luke and Lacey Taylor; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and a wide range of friendships whose lives he touched in many corners of the world.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sandy; parents, Howard and Karol;
father-in-law, Nestor Moreno and special Aunt, Guillermina Moreno.
We will celebrate Ron’s life with a Memorial Service on Saturday, March 2, 2024
at 11 a.m. with Pastor Karen Hofstad officiating. To honor and remember
Ron’s life, there will be a visitation on Friday, March 1, 2024 from 3 to 7
p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 727 8th Street, Baraboo, and on Saturday
from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Inurnment will be held
at a later date. We invite Ron’s family and friends to “talk cows” during this time;
one of his favorite hobbies.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family.
The Redlin-Ertz Funeral Home in Baraboo is assisting the family.

Source: Decorah Newspapers Feb. 10, 2024