Emert Lundstrom

As the second child of nine, Emert was born in Cosmos, MN to Leonard and Minnie Lundstrom. The day after graduating from high school, he entered the Army serving as a medic, musician and paratrooper in the South Pacific and Philippines during WWII. Returning home, he married his sweetheart, Ruth Hansen, in 1947. They moved to Seattle, WA in 1951 where he started his own heating and sheet metal business. In 1962 he took the family in a new direction when they moved to CA as Emert received his BA in teaching and biblical literature at Azusa Pacific University. He taught school in CA, OR and WA. He received his ordination through the Evangelical Methodist denomination in 1982 and served in Ridgefield WA. In 1985, he and Ruth moved to Salem, OR. Although retired, Emert continued to work as a substitute teacher until final retirement in 1995. Emert's life was full. Flying was a great love. He built airplanes, joined the Civil Air Patrol and spent hours skydiving with his brother Nyle. His other interests included, teaching, preaching, fishing and he was a master storyteller. He loved people. His bear hugs, smiles and laughter were always welcome. He never met anyone he didn't like.
God came first in Emert's life, then his beloved family. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, daughter Sherry Collins, grandchildren, Kristi Collins-Grogg (Bill) and Bill Wood (Pam). Great grandchildren, Sean Wood and Kendra Collins. Siblings include:Brothers, Elmer (deceased), Wyman (deceased), Nyle, Ivan, Dalton and Mylan. Sisters, Phyllis Rosenau, (deceased) and Carol Clark.

Services 1 p.m. on March 25, 2016 at hte Salem Evangelical Church, 455 Locust Street NE, Salem, OR. IN lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Willamette Valley Hospice or to Salem Evangelical Church Music Department.