Frederick ‘Fred’ Alfred Carl Eiesland

A Memorial Mass for Frederick “Fred” Alfred Carl Eiesland, 80, Lawrence, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Topeka.
He died Thursday, April 28, 2011, while riding his bicycle on the trails in Lawrence.
He was born March 15, 1931, in Larchwood, Iowa, the son of Adolph and Hazel Helgeson Eiesland. Mr. Eiesland graduated in 1949 from Canton High School in Canton, S.D., and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1954 during the Korean conflict.
Mr. Eiesland worked as a police officer for the Topeka Police Department in 1957. He received his associate of mental health certificate in 1974 from Washburn University. He worked at The Menninger Foundation in 1961 and retired as an activity therapist in 1993. Mr. Eiesland was retired for a short time and then joined the staff of the Battered Women Task Force at the YWCA in Topeka, leading the Alternatives to Battering program from 1993 to 1996. He worked as a mental health technician from 1997 to 2006 at Stormont Vail West. Mr. Eiesland then worked for Valeo Behavioral Care in Topeka. In 2008, he moved to Lawrence to live with his daughter, Rose, and her children. He was working for Trinity In-Home Care at the time of his death.
He married Helen Gilmore on Aug. 7, 1954, in Canton. She preceded him in death Aug. 3, 1999.
He was also preceded in death by a son, Samuel; a daughter, Ann Herrin; and a son-in-law, Gordon Foster.
Mr. Eiesland is survived by three brothers, Aaron, Brainerd, Minn., David, Detroit Lakes, Minn., and John Rolfe, Minneapolis; three daughters, Kathryn Engstrom, Topeka, Rose Foster, Lawrence, and Sarah Williamson and son-in-law, Jim, Topeka; seven grandchildren, Benjamin Engstrom, Josiah Engstrom, Andrea Engstrom, Samuel Foster, Alexander Williamson, Jack Williamson, and Georgia Foster; and two great-granddaughters, Bailey Koker and Joy Koker.
The family suggests memorials to the Fred Eiesland Memorial Fund, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.
A rosary will be recited at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at the mortuary with visitation to follow until 8:30 p.m.
Online condolences may be sent at warrenmcelwain.com.