Ron Kersten

Ronald Wayne Kersten was born April 27, 1943, to Karol and Lois (Netsch) Kersten in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was raised near Logan and graduated from Logan High School in 1961. Ron farmed with his dad and worked construction in Omaha. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. After his honorable discharge, Ron returned to Logan. He then lived in  Minnesota in the early 70s and operated a marina for four or five years on Leech Lake near Walker, Minnesota. He returned to Logan to farm and retired from farming in 2001. Ron married Sarah (Earleywine) Diggins on July 10, 1981, on the farm. Since he enjoyed running a bulldozer, he continued to do to custom work through out his retirement.

Ron was president of the Boyer Valley Drainage Board, had served on the Four County Fair Board, Harrison County Fair Board, Midwest Capital Board and the Boyer Valley Coon Hunters. For two years Ron won the High State Corn Yield contest. He enjoyed  going to Minnesota fishing; in 1995 they purchased a place on Big Mantrap near Park Rapids, Minnesota. In 2009, Ron and Sarah started going to Yuma, Arizona for the winters, and they also loved to travel. Ron loved to play cards, coon hunt, farm, operate the bulldozer, snowmobile, and raise cattle and hogs. They also raised Treeing Walker dogs and had several Night Champions. In his younger years he was involved with 4H and showed Short Horn cattle. Most of all he loved to teach children about life and visit with people.

Ron died Thursday, March 21, 2019, at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska surrounded by his family at the age of 75 years, 10 months, and 22 days.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Sarah Kersten of Woodbine, Iowa; three children, Brigit (Dave) Kuhl of Mapleton, Iowa, Jessica (Chris) Larson of Scribner, Nebraska, Chad (Haley) Kersten of Boone, Iowa; ten grandchildren, Luke (Allison) Kuhl, Abraham (Amanda) Kuhl, Seth (Casey) Kuhl, Adam (Andrea) Kuhl, Kiley (Ryan) O’Leary, Haden Kuhl, Connor and Allison Larson, and Dylan and Brandon Kinyon; seven great grandchildren; brother, Neil Kersten of Spokane, Washington; sister-in-law, Joan  Kersten of Fairbanks, Alaska; and many other  relatives and friends.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS: Please make memorial donations to Woodbine Fire & Rescue 517 Walker Street Woodbine, IA 51579, Logan Fire & Rescue 323 East 7th Street Logan, IA 51546 or the Woodbine Food Pantry 510 Lincoln Way Woodbine, IA 51579.