Tribute to Eleanor Ehresman

We were saddened to hear news of the passing of Eleanor Ehresman (a member of the IFES Finance Committee and treasurer of IFES/USA) on 6 October 2023 from acute leukemia.  

Dave Berry, former chair of the IFES/USA board, remembers Eleanor as someone who “embodied a love for the Lord Jesus and a life of service to him and the advancement of his Kingdom”.  

Eleanor and her husband Ron were faithful supporters of IFES and student ministry for many years, both locally and around the world. They were active members of their local church in Evanston, Illinois (USA), working with international students and involved with missions, and over the years kept up friendships around the world. The Ehresmans attended several IFES World Assemblies: Ron in 2007 and together in 2015 and 2019. 

Before retiring, Eleanor began serving as a volunteer with IFES/USA as their treasurer, and then joined the international finance board of IFES in 2015. Ron writes: “She loved serving in this organization, especially because of the deep friendships she developed with colleagues around the world.” 

Dave Berry continues: “Eleanor loved students and so appreciated the work of IFES in the student world.  As a faithful servant, Eleanor used her experience and giftedness in the realm of finance and accounting to advance God's Kingdom in various settings including Moody Bible Institute and IFES.  Her gifts, personal insights and ready smile made her a wonderful teammate.  She will be missed by all of us who knew her and served with her.” 

Tim Adams (IFES General Secretary) recalls one story of Eleanor and Ron’s kingdom influence on those around them. They had been so excited by a booklet telling stories of IFES graduates that they gave a copy to a woman who they had been helping over several years. When they saw how impressed she was too, Ron suggested IFES in her will. As a result, both she and her brother left significant gifts to IFES. Tim continues, “Like so many people, we were blessed by Eleanor’s passion for students and her servant-hearted love. She was a wise and experienced member of the Finance Committee, and I – like all of us who spent time with her – valued her wisdom, sense of fun, and godly friendship. We will miss her deeply” 

You can read a fuller tribute to Eleanor from Ron here, from where you can also send a card to the family and find out details of her memorial services.