Hershel H. Siebrass

Hershel Herman Siebrass, age 84, died Thursday, February 9, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, with Rev. Mike Omtvedt officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park.  Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice.

Hershel was born December 20, 1932, on a farm near Blue Hill, NE.  He was the son of Martin and Elsa (Petri) Siebrass.  Hershel attended District #50 and Trinity Lutheran Parochial schools.  He graduated from Blue Hill High School in 1950 and the University of Nebraska – Kearney in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education.  Hershel received his Master of Arts Degree from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion in 1960. His thesis involved a comparative study of the microscopic floating organisms of Fort Randal and Lewis and Clark reservoirs on the Missouri River.

Hershel was called to military duty on July 17, 1954 and took U.S. Army basic training at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX and Signal School at Camp Gordon at Augusta, GA.  He was transferred to the 97th Signal Battalion, Panzer Kaserne at Boeblingen, Germany.  He was honorably discharged on May 30, 1956, at Fort Hamilton, NY.  Hershel was united in marriage to Kathleen Johnson on April 11, 1954.  He later married Grace Sheely Stoutenberg on June 27, 1992.

Hershel taught general science, chemistry, and physics at Cozad, NE.  Hershel taught biology, human anatomy, ecology, animal behavior, and environmental studies at Mankato West High School, retiring in 1993 and having served 12 years as the District 77 science chairman.  He also served as a Junior Class advisor for 25 years at West High School and was co-founder for the G.E.D. Program and taught the science area of the G.E.D. for 20 years.  He received the Outstanding Service award from the MN Academy of Science and was a liaison with the Minnesota Education Association for 7 years.  Hershel was a co-founder and past director of the Minnesota Junior Engineering and Humanities Symposium.  He was a past director of the Minnesota State Science Fair.  Hershel held life memberships in the American Legion, VFW, MN Academy of Science, Blue Earth County Historical Society, National Education Association, and served an active role in education and the sciences in the 1970’s serving as chairperson in numerous committees.  He was active in several community organizations in the 1980’s and 1990’s, including the Mankato West Wrestling Booster Club, Mankato and Blue Earth County environmental organizations, Kiwanis, and Y’s Men.  Hershel had many interests and hobbies at various times in his life which included refinishing furniture,  being outdoors fishing, hunting, bird watching, and photography.  He enjoyed traveling to all 50 of the United States, southern Canada, northern Mexico, Europe, Bolivia, and Peru.  

Hershel is survived by his wife, Grace Siebrass of Mankato; two daughters, Susan (Kenneth) Schwichtenberg of Belle Plaine and Janet (Gregory) Bernu of Cloquet; three step-children, Vicki Wicka of Winona, Donald Stoutenberg of Lexington, KY, and Peggy (Anthony) Olivier of Robbinsdale; four grandchildren and 23 step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and 14 step-great-grandchildren; five great-great-step-grandchildren; sister, Norma Osterbuhr of Hastings, NE; brother, Martin Siebrass of Louisville, NE; several nieces, nephews, and special family friend, Lynn Lanier of Duluth.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Kathleen “Kay” Siebrass in 1989; one step-grandson, Abraham Lytle in 1998; and special family friend, James Lanier.