Gordon Eriksen

Notater:

Gordon Eriksen
December 2, 2019
Kalamazoo, MI

Gordon died December 2, 2019 in Kalamazoo at the age of 96.

He was born December 22, 1922 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the middle child of Danish immigrants, Gustav and Ida (Andersen) Eriksen.

Gordon grew up in Graham, Texas.

After high school, he began studies at the University of Oklahoma, until WW II intervened. In 1943, he joined the United States Army and served as a teletype operator until his honorable discharge in 1946. Gordon returned to Oklahoma and earned a B.A. in English and B.F.A. in Drama. He taught high school for several years before earning an M.F.A. and PhD in English Literature at the University of Colorado.

Those degrees led to a teaching position at the University of Northern Iowa until Gordon eventually headed to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to earn an M.S. in Library Science. Employment at Western Michigan University's School of Library and Information Science brought Gordon to Kalamazoo in 1976. After the School closed, he transferred to the Central Reference Department of the University Libraries. He retired in 1990 but continued his involvement by helping to plan the first Friends of the University Libraries organization.

Gordon also mentored students in Kalamazoo Public Schools and served as a volunteer at Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan and Bronson Hospital.

Gordon's abiding passions were music and travel. He attended every classical music concert in Kalamazoo he could and supported many musical organizations, both financially and as a volunteer. Gordon's travels took him to Europe, Canada, and every county in the United States, except the four in Hawaii.

Gordon was preceded in death by:
his siblings, Ruth and Stewart.

He is survived by nephew, Scott (Veronica) Eriksen of Bedford, Texas.

Memorial donations may be directed to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or the Heritage Community Foundation of Kalamazoo. Per Gordon's wishes, there will be no services. Burial will take place at Ft. Custer National Cemetery at a later date.

Begravet:
Fort Custer National Cemetery

Andre begivenheder:

• Konfirmation: 15 okt. 1899, Vejle, Vejle, Denmark; Methodistkirken

Notater:

In 1910, together, they planned to come to America to be married and establish their first home. They came to Danish relatives at Anoka, Minnesota in late July and were married 20 August 1910 in St. Paul, Minnesota where they lived under Gustav Adolf Eriksen enlisted in the Construction Quartermaster Corps of the US during World War I. Due to his mother's illness, he was called back to Denmark in 1919. He and his wife returned to Minnesota in April 1922. In 1934, the family moved to Jack County where Mr. Eriksen was engaged in the oil business. The family moved to Graham on 12 August 1937 where they lived until Mr. Eriksen returned to the Construction Corps at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1940. In 1945, they were transferred to Camden, Arkansas living there until returning to Graham in 1950. The couple moved to Bedford in 1975.

Gustav Adolf Eriksen was confirmed in the Methodist Church in 1892. He became a member of St Paul's Methodist Church in Vejle, Denmark in 1900.

Survived by his wife; two sons - Gordon Eriksen and Stuart Eriksen; one daughter - Mrs. Loren Maples; three granddaughters; one grandson; one sister - Anna Ericksen de Hass of Copenhagen, Denmark; nieces and nephews in Denmark.

The Graham Leader
January 9, 1977
Contributed by Dorman Holub

Begravet:
Pioneer Cemetery

Gustav blev gift med Ida Christine Andersen. Ida blev født den 3 sep. 1886; døde den 1 nov. 1985 i Graham, Young, Texas, USA; blev begravet i Graham, Young, Texas, USA. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Notater:

daughter of Claus and Andrea Andersen

Ida Christine Andersen and her twin sister, Marie Magdalene was born in Nordberg, Denmark. They received their education in the elementary and high schools at Nordberg. She attended Ryslinger College in Ryslinger, Denmark.

Ida Christine Andersen married G.A. Eriksen on 20 August 1910. In 1910, they moved to the United States and settled at St. Paul, Minnesota. The family moved to Texas in 1934 from Minnesota. They have two sons - Gordon Eriksen and Stuart Eriksen; one daughter - Mrs. Loren Maples; three granddaughters; one grandson.

Mrs. Eriksen was a member of the Lutheran Church in Denmark. When the couple established residence in St. Paul, Minnesota, she became a member of the Methodist Church. She was an active member of First Methodist Church in Graham.

Begravet:
Pioneer Cemetery

Frederik blev gift med Karen Marie Eriksen. Karen (datter af Erik Mikkelsen og Anne Kirstine Sørensdatter) blev født den 15 feb. 1854 i Højen, Vejle, Denmark; døde den 2 nov. 1922; blev begravet . [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Notater:

Vejle, Nørvang, Vejle Købstad, Vissingegade 435, Forhuset, Kvisten, 1494, FT-1880, C5977
Laust Laursen, 44, Gift, Postbud. Husfader, Løgumkloster, Slesvig
Caroline Henriette født Christensen, 44, Gift, hans Kone, Nørup Sogn, Veile Amt
Claudine Caroline Wissing, 9, Ugift, deres Pleiedatter, Vinding Sogn, Veile Amt
Karen Marie Eriksen, 25, Ugift, Sypige, Højen Sogn, Veile Amt

Andre begivenheder:

• Dåb: 4 sep. 1808, Jerlev Kirke

Notater:

Vejle, Nørvang, Vejle Købstad, Vejle Købstad, Søndergade. 136 og 137 a, 143, FT-1860, D5872
Erik Mikkelsen 53 Gift Tyende Jerlef

Erik blev gift med Anne Kirstine Sørensdatter den 26 apr. 1851 i Højen Kirke. Anne (datter af Søren Jørgensen og Karen Marie Hansdatter) blev født den 9 jul. 1829 i Jerlev, Vejle, Denmark; blev døbt den 30 aug. 1829 i Jerlev Kirke; døde den 9 aug. 1895 i Jerlev, Vejle, Denmark; blev begravet den 13 aug. 1895 i Jerlev Kirke. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]