Jac E Lu Ersland
January 2, 1953 ~ October 11, 2021
Jac E Lu Ersland, 68, Educator at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, died Monday, October 11, 2021.
Visitation will be from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Thursday, October 14, 2021, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Graveside Service will be at 2:00 pm, Friday, October 15, 2021, at White Chapel Memorial Gardens. Memorial Service will follow at 4:00 pm, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
Preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Elda Deardoff.
Survived by her husband, David Ersland; daughters, Rebekah (Kevin) Steffens of San Pedro, CA, Jenny (David) Myers of Wichita, Maggie (David) Mews of Dearborn, MI; sons, Ben (Mandi) Ersland of Bennington, NE, Jake (Sarah) Ersland of Lenexa, KS, Michael (Naomi) Ersland of Ghana; grandchildren, Grace, Ben, and Evan Steffens, Peder, Ruth, Anna, and Andrew Ersland, Elijah, Ezekiel, Esther, and Eden Myers; Isaac and Faith Ersland; Regina, Malachi, Thomas, Rachel, and Baby Mews; sister, Debra (Pastor Darrel) Kois of Omaha, NE; brothers, Pastor Robert (Shelly) Deardoff, Jr. of North Platte NE, Pastor Dan (Kris) Deardoff, Sr. of Brandon, SD, Bill (Laura) Deardoff of Omaha, NE, Tim (Pat) Deardoff of Ft. Worth, TX.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with: Lutheran Heritage Foundation, 51474 Romeo Plank Rd., Macomb, MI 48042; Lutheran Bible Translators, P.O. Box 789, 205 S. Main St., Concordia, MO 64020.
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Jac E Lu Ersland was born on January 2, 1953 to Robert and Elda Deardoff, nee Dienst in Lincoln, NE. She entered the family of God through baptism March 29, 1953 and confirmed her faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Omaha, NE. Her confirmation verses were 1 Peter 5:10-11. She grew up the eldest of six children near Bennington, NE. She graduated from Burke High School in Omaha and attended St. John’s Junior College in Winfield, KS, where she met her husband, David Ersland. They were married June 15, 1974 at Zion in Omaha. Jac E continued her education at Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE earning a BA in children’s literature with a minor in biology.
Jac E and David raised six children as they served God in churches in San Diego, CA; Rockdale, WI; Herkimer, KS; Greenleaf, KS; Okarche, OK; and Argonia, KS. Her career in education included teaching preschool, 5 & 6th grade, special education, library, and as a teacher assistant. She was also an EMT and CNA.
Jac E loved traveling, visiting 49 states, Mexico, and the lower providences of Canada. She visited her children in Hong Kong and Ghana. Her parents nurtured her love for God’s creation, gardening, and family history. She had a heart for missions and serving in LWML. God’s Word was the center of her life, and she strove to raise her family in it. She also loved the expressions of God’s truths revealed through hymnody. God was with her throughout her entire life.
As she breathed her final breaths, God’s Word, love, and presence surrounded her as well as family. On October 11, 2021 she passed into her rest until Christ’s return in Wichita, KS and will be buried at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Wichita, KS on October 15, 2021.
Jac E is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Elda Deardoff. She is survived by her husband Rev. David Ersland; children Rebekah (Kevin) Steffens of San Pedro, CA; Benjamin (Mandi) Ersland of Bennington, NE; Jenny (David) Myers of Wichita, KS; Jacob (Sarah) Ersland of Lenexa, KS; Margaret (Rev. David) Mews of Dearborn, MI; and Michael (Naomi) Ersland of Ghana; her grandchildren Grace, Ben, Evan Seffens; Peder, Ruth, Anna, Andrew Ersland; Elijah, Ezekiel, Esther, Eden Myers; Isaac, Faith Ersland; Regina, Malachi, Thomas, Rachel, baby Mews; and her siblings Debra (Rev. Darrel) Kois of Omaha, NE; Rev. Robert (Shelly) Deardoff, Jr. of North Platte, NE; Rev. Daniel (Kris) Deardoff, Sr. of Brandon, SD; William (Laura) Deardoff of Omaha, NE; and Timothy (Pat) Deardoff of Ft. Worth, TX; and many nieces and nephews.
In her wishes, Jac E wrote, “I want a ‘praise party’ to thank and praise God for the many blessings He has given me and my family, especially our salvation by the death of Jesus, in our place to pay the price for all our sins.” To God be all glory.
My hear goes out to your family during this painful time. I was in Bible Study with Jac E and knew what a wonderful and faithful servant she was. Praying that God’s love comforts you and blesses you right now.
I have fond memories of teaching with Jac E at Messiah Lutheran School. She was a sweet lady always so nice and very proud of her children and grandchildren! So sorry for your loss. May God’s gift of eternal life in Christ our Savior bring you Peace, Comfort, and Joy! With sympathy, Donna Sudol