Ernst W. Kiesling

He died at 87 years of age on October 14, 2021 from cardiac arrest. His smile, wit, integrity, humility, kindness, knowledge and wisdom are a legacy widely recognized and deeply felt. “Ernie” was beloved by all who knew him as husband, father, grandfather, uncle, son, brother, kin, colleague, professor, mentor and friend.

Ernie was the youngest of six children. His childhood was marked by his mother’s death from typhoid fever when he was two years old. Ernie was keenly aware of the economic scarcity in his family, evidenced by the long days and nights his father spent working the farm. He and his five siblings attended grade school in a three-classroom building. He recalled that he would ride the bus to/from school, and often came home to an empty house while others tended to the farm. This daily experience, coupled with a reported kidnapping in the community, created an undisclosed fear in Ernie that may well have driven much of the focus of his later career.

Allowed to skip third grade, Ernie graduated from San Angelo High School before turning sixteen. Not yet confident in his academic life, he decided to enroll at San Angelo Junior College. He recounted a brief, but life-changing conversation with his dean:

“What will you major in?” “I don’t know.”

“Are you good at math?” “Yes.”

“We have a pre-engineering degree. I recommend trying that.”

Ernie would eventually earn three engineering degrees and give fifty years of his life teaching others in the field of civil and mechanical engineering.

Ernie considered several options for college, but chose to enroll at Texas Tech University because it seemed “more hospital to a country boy.” He took one course from J.H. Murdough which proved to be formational as Mr. Murdough invited Ernie to grade papers, encouraged him to fill perceived gaps in his education, and gave birth to Ernie’s interest in teaching.

During this time, Ernie’s Aunt Dorothy lived in Lockett, Texas, near the Haseloff family. When Dorothy discovered that Juanita Haseloff was attending college at Texas Tech, she encouraged Ernie and “Nita” to meet each other. The opportunity came soon thereafter at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lubbock. Their first date was a congregational picnic in spring 1954 with close friends.

Ernie graduated in 1955 and took a job in Coahoma, near Big Spring, fulfilling a desire to settle in West Texas. Within two years and under the continued inspiration of Mr. Murdough, Ernie returned to serve as an instructor at Texas Tech. Nita was nearing completion of her degree, and they soon realized they were in love. Ever willing to help someone in need, Ernie invited Nita to move a friend to Ballinger, Texas. While driving home, Ernie proposed. It was the end of May and by August they were married. Nita wrote in her wedding album that “highways mean something more to us than a paved road – they signify the beginning of our future together.” Such were the humble origins of a marriage that spanned six decades, raised three children, and saw both of them earn numerous awards for their professional contributions and exemplary lives of service.

As an instructor, Ernie recognized that his desire to teach would require advanced degrees. The opportunity presented itself through a brochure describing a graduate program in applied mechanics at Michigan State University. Ernie’s first application was declined due to his undergraduate grades. Mr. Murdough intervened and gained his acceptance. Ernie earned two A’s and two B’s in summer school, followed by four A’s in the Fall, vindicating Mr. Murdough’s intervention.

After completing his Master’s degree, Ernie and Nita returned to Texas Tech and held a teaching position for two years. The award of a National Science Faculty Fellowship provided the means to begin and complete a doctoral degree in just over three years at Michigan State University. Following completion of his doctoral degree, Ernie worked for three-years as a Senior Research Engineer at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio performing tests on water resource systems. He then joined Texas Tech as a professor and chair of the Civil Engineering department. He served in this role 19 years, teaching courses in civil engineering and designing homes innovative for their use of solar energy, earth-sheltered temperature efficiency, and capacity to withstand a tornado. For five years he served as Associate Dean of Engineering for Research and for three years as Senior Associate Dean. Even in this more administrative and leadership role, Ernie wanted to remain in contact with students and wanted to teach them how to live according to a high level of professionalism. Drawing heavily from Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and gleaning from the biographies of great leaders, Ernie built a course centered around the foundational importance of character.

Ernie often credited the success and joy of his long tenure at Texas Tech to the remarkable colleagues he had the privilege of serving. Deep friendships formed with the spouses and families of James and Audrey McDonald, Joe and Anne Minor, Kishor and Marianne Mehta, Jimmy and Anne Smith, Dan and Reva Wells, Bob and Anne Swayze, and others. Ernie believed these friendships were the key to unprecedented generativity and the significant contributions the civil engineering department made in disaster research, wind engineering, glass testing, and historic preservation technology. When an EF5 tornado struck its deadly blow to Lubbock in 1970, Ernie and colleagues committed their professional lives to researching the safety of structures. In tribute, many of their names appear on the Lubbock tornado memorial recently dedicated on the 50th anniversary of that tragic day.

In 2001 Ernie became the first executive director of the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA), developing the first industry standards for above-ground storm shelters. Additionally, Ernie and his colleagues established the Debris Impact Facility at Texas Tech to analyze the behavior and impact of “missiles” propelled by a tornado on homes and buildings (e.g. 2x4 wood studs traveling at 100 miles per hour). These “don’t-try-this-at-home” debris impact tests not only made for fun science-fair projects for his children and grandchildren, they eventually helped Ernie earn recognition as the “Father of the Safe Room” for his design of above ground storm shelters. Whether providing abundantly for his wife and children, or working through organizations like NSSA or FLASH (Federal Alliance for Safe Homes), Ernie spent much of his adult life insuring that everyone felt safe and secure.

Hours before suffering his heart attack, Ernie was on the phone with Mike Vaughn, president of NSSA, still working toward the next conference and enthused by the prospect of the next “Kiesling Award” being conferred in his honor.

No recounting of Ernie and Nita’s life could be complete without recognizing the Christian faith that undergirded and illuminated their lives. They began each day with prayer, teaching their children by reading A Daily Walk with God, Golden Arch books, and Lutheran devotional booklets. They not only celebrated birthdays, but also baptisms. Their children learned the story of Jesus through their costumed participation and role-play in the annual children’s Christmas pageant, and through faithful completion of their confirmation. Ernie and Nita encouraged the children to serve the church through acolyting, helping teach Vacation Bible School, decorating wheel chairs and playing B-I-N-G-O with residents at the nursing home, and attending district- and state-youth events. They also demonstrated their care and compassion by serving as godparents to underprivileged children they would help bring to church each Sunday.

Throughout his life, Ernie served the Lutheran Church in many different ways, including being an Area representative to the Texas District LCMS Board of Directors for several years. He and Nita both served in influential leadership roles in every congregation where they were members. In their mid-eighties, Nita and Ernie trained to become Stephen Ministers in the congregation, ever eager to extend care and hospitality to others.

Ernie and Nita not only gave generously of their service, their philanthropic commitments supported Texas Tech University through the Matador society and Sociedad de la Espuela. They established endowments for the Community Foundation of West Texas, Concordia University Texas, and Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.

Ernie was preceded in death by three brothers (Wilfred, Leon, and Karl) and sister Katherine. He is survived by his older sister Ruth; his wife Nita; three children (Carol Kiesling; Chris Kiesling and wife Suzanne, Max Kiesling and wife Rebekah); six grandchildren (Marco, Daniel and wife Nicole, Samuel, Christiana, Katherine, Abigail); and two turtles they left for perpetuity at their former home in the Lakeridge subdivision.

The family would like to celebrated his life with a visitation on Monday, October 25, 2021 at Resthaven Funeral Home, from 430pm-730pm. Funeral Service will follow on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 with a 10am service at Hope Lutheran Church, and interment will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions in Ernie’s honor can be made to:

Community Foundation of West Texas – Kiesling Family Fund, or

Concordia University Texas – Kiesling Family Scholarship Endowment https://www.concordia.edu/giving/

For online tributes please visit www.ResthavenFuneralHome.com