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Ersfeld’s death erases another name from past |
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Wednesday, 02 April 2008 |
Cliff Buchan
News Editor
Slowly but surely the names that once marked Forest Lake’s downtown business district are vanishing.
Tire shop owner Reub Engler is gone. Movie theater owner Bob Drummond has passed. Insurance company owner Sharkey Anderson and grocery store owner Ray Houle are gone. So is drug store owner Tom Rolseth.
Now the name Tom Ersfeld can be added to the list.
Ersfeld, 94, who died on Sunday, March 30, was the second of three generations of Ersfelds to operate a downtown meat market.
Ersfeld Meats ran from 1914 to 2007 when the market at 99 N. Lake St. closed.
Home since 1914
Tom Ersfeld was not yet 2 when he moved to Forest Lake with his parents, Henry and Anne in 1914. Henry Ersfeld moved here and started what became Ersfeld Meat Market.
With the exception of his time in the Navy during World War II, Tom Ersfeld fell in line behind his father as a meat man.
During the war, Tom Ersfeld was a chief pharmacist mate and served in the South Pacific. He returned home after the war to work in the market and attend college at St. Thomas.
In 1948 he took over the business from his father. Tom Ersfeld ran the meat market until 1978 when the business was turned over to his son, Joe Ersfeld. The third-generation family member operated the market until early last year when the store was closed.
During his many decades of work in the business sector, Tom Ersfeld was also involved in other aspects of community life.
He was active at his church, St. Peter’s Catholic Church and also active in the Thomas J. Gibbons Council of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a life member of American Legion Post 225 and VFW Post 4210 in Forest Lake.
He served as American Legion Post 225 commander in 1951-52.
Ersfeld was also active in the alumni association at the College of St. Thomas.
He was a member of the Forest Lake Volunteer Fire Department for a number of years.
Funeral details
A Mass of Christian Burial for Thomas John Ersfeld will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 3, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake, with interment at Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake.
A gathering of family and friends will take place from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 2 and 9-10 a.m., Thursday at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille Houle Ersfeld; sons, Thomas and Joseph; daughters, Annette Hegler, Mary Keilty, Sister Jean Ersfeld SSND, Kathleen Robinson and Rita Norton; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Anne Ersfeld; brother Dr. Murray P. Ersfeld.
Memorials are preferred to Allina Homecaring and Hospice 1055 Westgate Drive Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55114.
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