Goodrich, MI - Liesel M. Gjerstad, 26, died Monday, April 13, 1998 at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 18 at the Goodrich United Methodist Church with Bishop Donald Ott, District Superintendent John Huhtala Sr., Reverend Billy J. McKown and Reverend Steven A. Gjerstad officiating. Richard S. Blakeley was the organist, and Shauna Weil was the pianist. Vocal music was provided by Maryvonne DeSmyter and Paula Weed. Casketbearers were Gary Brainard, Lance Gjerstad, Larry Gjerstad, Lowell Gjerstad, Mark Johnson and Tim Johnson. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery.
Liesel M. Gjerstad was born on March 4, 1972, the daughter of Steve and Flo (Arneson) Gjerstad. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. She graduated from Hemlock High School in Hemlock and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Adrian College in 1994.
She was an active member of the Goodrich United Methodist Church, the Chi Omega Fraternity, The Phi Alpha Theta Fraternity in Histroy and the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education. She was employed by the Sylvan Learning Centers of Flint and Ann Arbor as well as serving as a substitute teacher in several area school districts. She was beginning to work on a Master's degree in speech and language pathology at Eastern Michigan University when she was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous Leukemia in September of 1997. She received a bone marrow transplant February 6 and died after a courageous battle with complications.
Liesel is survived by her parents, Steve and Flo of Goodrich; two brothers, Lowell and Lance of Goodrich; fiancee, Shawn Melvin of Ypsilanti; grandmother, Esther Gjerstad of Bemidji; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clarence and Eloise Arneson and Elmer Gjerstad.