Mark H. "Whitey" Ekstrand
Died: Sun Jun 10, 2012
Visitation
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Fri Jun 15, 2012
Location: Our Funeral Home
Time of Remembrance
7:00 PM Fri Jun 15, 2012
Location: Our Funeral Home
|
Mark H. “Whitey” Ekstrand, age 56, of Wabasha, died of ALS at his home on Sunday, June 10, 2012. He was born July 25, 1955 in Wabasha, the son of Dr. LeRoy and Ludmila (Kazda) Ekstrand. He graduated from Wabasha High school in 1973 and later received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Winona State University. Mark worked as an EMT for the Austin Ambulance Service in Austin, MN and later worked for the Austin Medical Center as an ER Technician. He was diagnosed with ALS in December, 2010 at which time he retired and moved back to Wabasha.
He was an avid fly fisherman and an accomplished golfer, winning the Coffee Mill Golf Club Championship and several golf tournaments. He especially loved the family gatherings and commiserating with his brothers and nieces and nephews.
Mark is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, LeRoy Ekstrand and Judith Whitehead, Tucson, AZ, Jerre Ekstrand, Minneapolis, MN, Peter and Kathy Ekstrand, Wabasha, MN, Thomas Ekstrand, Wabasha, MN; uncle, Dr. Richard (Florence) Ekstrand, St. Petersburg Beach, FL; nephews, Ehren (Jenny) Ekstrand, Mike (Jean) Wills, Eric Wills; nieces, Amy (Benji) Richardson, Anne Wills. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In accordance with Mark’s wishes no services will be held. His body will be cremated. A time of visitation and support will be held on Friday, June 15, 2012 from 5-8pm at the Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha with a time to share remembrances at 7pm. A private interment will be held later at Riverview Cemetery in Wabasha. The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to The ALS Association, Minnesota Chapter, 333 N. Washington Ave., Suite 105, Minneapolis, MN 55401.
| |
|
|
Click the button to generate a printable document containing all condolences submitted
|
Condolence Booklet
|
|
Tom Abbott
|
Posted Mon June 11, 2012
|
|
I'm so sorry for your loss. Mark was a wonderful soul, quick with a smile and always encouraging. He exuded positive energy to brighten any room he entered.
Tom Abbott, Petersburg, Alaska
|
|
Jude Leigh
|
Posted Mon June 11, 2012
|
|
Im very sorry to hear about Mark. When i first moved to Austin 23
years ago Mark was my neighbor in the apt. house that we lived in.
I would see Mark throughout the years in Austin , mostly at the
library. I will have memories of Mark..God bless his soul.
|
|
Michael and Tam VanRyswyk
|
Posted Mon June 11, 2012
|
|
We are so sorry to learn of Mark''s death. He has been good friend
for a long time and we will miss him.
|
|
Matt Abbott
|
Posted Mon June 11, 2012
|
|
I am very sorry to hear of your loss… To the entire Ekstrand family, please accept my sincere and deepest condolences. Mark was always quick with a warm hello and a big bright smile; I am honored to have known him as I did; an absolute joy. My turn to smile back. Rest in peace Mark.
Matt Abbott St. Paul, MN
|
|
Joe Abbott
|
Posted Mon June 11, 2012
|
|
Mark always had the most perfect golf swing. Never labored, like pouring water out of a pitcher. What an insidious disease, God bless, and Rest In Peace Mark. You will be missed.
|
|
Rick and Carol Young
|
Posted Mon June 11, 2012
|
|
So sorry to lose a great friend. We've known Mark for over 20 years. I was working in the ER when he started working there. We always knew we could count on Mark in any emergency. He was a great worker, and he could carry on a conversation with just about anybody...and about any topic. His patients and co-workers loved him.
He has shown so much courage battling this illness. He's been an inspiration to us all. We will miss him.
|
|
Melissa Minnich
|
Posted Mon June 11, 2012
|
|
I have been sick the last 14 years coming in and out of the er here in Austin and Mark and I have gotten to know each other. He was quite the compassionate and sweet man and he was so good at his job. He always knew how to put a smile on my face or just hold my hand or even wipe a tear from my eye when I got really scared and didn't have my family back with me yet. We talked alot of fishing and golfing over the years and my temper with golfing lol. I will truly miss him he was one of our true angel's here in this hospital and it has not been the same without him. My sympathy goes out to his family and friends and just wanted you to know how important of a man he was just to a girl coming in and out of the er.
|
|
Bradley Weber
|
Posted Tue June 12, 2012
|
|
Mark was a great mentor and inspiration to me when I first started working in the emergency department in 1996. He was kind, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. I will never forget his great stories, quick wit, and wonderful sense of humor.
|
|
Chuck Springer
|
Posted Tue June 12, 2012
|
|
I was very sorry to hear Mark had passed. I take great job in knowing that now he is no longer suffering. I will always remember Mark as a friend, and someone that never got down on me when we were partners on the golf course. He always had something positive to say, no matter how bad I was playing. You don't meet many people as friendly as Mark always was. He will be missed.
|
|
Johanna Leuchter DO
|
Posted Tue June 12, 2012
|
|
I enjoyed working with Mark in the ED in Austin. He was always interesting to talk with, and he always helped me when I asked him to. My condolences to his family.
|
|
Diane Dammen
|
Posted Tue June 12, 2012
|
|
My sincere sympathy to all of you in your loss. Since I was a nurse in ER for 42 years, I worked with Mark since he arrived in Austin as an EMT and then orderly in the ER. He was my friend and co-worker who was knowledgable and dependable. He loved his work and his ability to help people. He was always searching for answers to anything and everything and his positive attitude was enspiring. Even to the end, he was striving to find answers because he loved living. He has been missed in the ER and in Austin but will be remembered by all who knew him as the special person he was. God bless, Mark.
|
|
Cia Abbott Bullemer
|
Posted Wed June 13, 2012
|
|
How sad to have to say goodbye to such a nice, bright, shining human being. Mark, you are missed but I take comfort in knowing that you are free now.
My sympathies go out to all of the Ekstrands. I am glad that you all had one last time together around Memorial Day weekend an have some true family time. Peace.
Cia in Yardley, PA
|
|
jillian shatek
|
Posted Wed June 13, 2012
|
|
I will miss my friend Mark. I also work at the AMC and had many daily discussions with Mark about our mutual hobby, trout fishing. I loved to listen to Mark's great stories and valued his friendship while I worked in CSS.
|
|
Susan Torkelson
|
Posted Thu June 14, 2012
|
|
I was sorry to learn of Mark's passing, but so glad I got to know him while working at AMC. He always had a smile and a some way to make everyone else smile. :) Rest in Peace Mark!
|
|
Jim Glynn
|
Posted Fri June 15, 2012
|
|
My sincere sympathy to Leroy, Jerre, Pete, and Tommy on the loss of your brother, Mark. Jim Glynn, Allen, Texas
|
No photographs are currently available. Use the button below if you wish to add a photograph to this page.
|
