Erik Carl Kiesz
September 13, 1972 ~ November 18, 2023
Born in:
Tracy, Minnesota
Resided in:
Fargo, North Dakota
To view the livestream of the service, please click on the link below:
https://boxcast.tv/view/erik-kiesz-funeral-l0y165rzzoh9dxwxjx4l?_gl=1*v0kb6m*_ga*MTIyMjM4NjcxMS4xNTg0MDM5MzY5*_ga_PXBBF7HVWQ*MTcwMTk2MTkzNy4xMzcuMS4xNzAxOTYxOTUxLjAuMC4w
Erik Carl Kiesz, 51, of Fargo, ND, and formerly of Aberdeen, SD, passed away naturally in his sleep on November 18, 2023.
A memorial service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, South Campus in Fargo, ND on December 8th at 1pm.
Erik was born on September 13, 1972, in Tracy, Minnesota. He graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1991. He attended Concordia College and graduated in 1995 with a BA in Computer Science and Music. While at Concordia he played with the Concordia College Band, Concordia College Orchestra, Tri-College Percussion Ensemble, and the Marimba Choir.
After college, Erik worked as a Programmer Analyst for Federated Insurance in Owatonna, MN before moving to Sioux Falls where he worked for Citi and First Premier Bank. In 2009, he moved to Fargo and worked as a Software Engineer for Core-Link and then Principal Financial Group.
Erik had a passion for music and would travel as a percussionist to play with various groups.
Erik cared deeply for his family, his friends, and his community. You could often find him volunteering for a school supply drive, delivering Meals on Wheels, and supporting numerous causes in the community such as Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald House, Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota to name a few. He was the recipient of the 2019 Emerging Leaders Catalyst of the Year Award for United Way of Cass-Clay. He also loved teaching fitness classes and truly found a second family with his Zumba and Aqua Peeps. He was recently certified as a Pound Pro Instructor which allowed him to combine his passions for both fitness and percussion.
He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church where he played in the praise band and was involved in other activities of the church.
Grateful for having shared in Erik’s life are his mother, Carole; brothers Aaron (Alison) and Justin; four nieces and nephews – Wyatt, Cody, Maria, and Josephine, all of Aberdeen. He was preceded in death by his father, Marvin; grandparents, James and Ferne Lee and Carl and Rose Kiesz.
Services
Memorial Service - Friday: December 8, 2023 1:00 pm
Hope Lutheran Church Fargo, South Campus
3636 25th St S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58104
(701) 235-6629
https://www.fargohope.org/
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
We delivered Meals on Wheels with Erik every Friday for the last 8 – 10 years. He was so kind, caring, friendly and welcoming! We had just visited for a bit before the delivery truck arrived, wished each other a Happy Thanksgiving and went about with our deliveries never, ever thinking that we might not see each other again.
Erik will be greatly missed not only each and every Friday but every single day going forth.
I am so sorry to hear that Erik passed! He was a wonderful kind person and a great Zumba instructor! He will be missed!
Condolences to Eric’s family & close friends. We had mutual friends in Aberdeen SD that we talked about and I remember how excited he was about going to his high school reunion. He will be missed by many.
Erik was an amazing coworker … always willing to help when he could. He was energetic and encouraging. He had the most positive outlook and always included a smiley emoji in his texts. He will be greatly missed.
Erik was a classmate since Kindergarten. Such a kind soul gone too soon.
Erik was our Zumba instructor who encouraged us to get out of bed each Monday morning & join him at FW for a fun workout! Loved his enthusiasm & huge smile! God bless his memory & bless his family🙏🏽
Erik was the best drummer in our Ulen centennial band. I will surely miss him as I know fellow band members will as well.
I was in the class of 2018-2019 Chamber Leadership class with Erik. We were also in the small group project together as well that year, where we served pancakes together for a small rural community to bring people together. He was such a joy to meet, get to know and work together with. Such a devastating lost for our community, as Erik worked so hard volunteering for and cared for deeply. Thoughts and prayers to Erik’s family, and to his mom, She really raised a good one.
Erik will be missed by so many! He had so much positive energy and enthusiasm at his Zumba classes. He motivated so many people and made working out fun with his smile and humor! Prayers to all his family and friends.
Erik was a very nice person spent a lot of time with him at church I hope that he finds peace he will be missed
Deepest condolences to his family.
Erik was such a positive, upbeat and faith-filled man who radiated his love for life through his music talents and helping others in his community. He was always so willing to play bongos to accompany my Hosanna Kids Choir at Hope Lutheran whenever I asked him to join us. I’m heartbroken by his passing. His memory will live on in all of the lives he touched here on earth. My sincerest sympathies to the family.
I had the pleasure of working along side Erik at CoreLink for about 7 years. He was amazing at his job, always willing to help others, and always had a smile on his face even when things got tough. He was a huge asset to the Fargo-Moorhead community and beyond. You could tell how much he enjoyed all of the things that he volunteered for – Meals on Wheels, United Way activities, music/band events and so much more. He was always there when someone needed something. Throughout my health journey, he was always offering hope and prayers. He will be missed by so many. I now have another guardian angel watching over me. Fly high Erik!
We were band buddies and dear friends through high school and college. Erik was a special friend and will be missed!! <3
What a beautiful service celebrating Erik and the legacy he leaves. I hope we all have learned how to live and love unconditionally like he did. He will be greatly missed by so many.
Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Roxanne-Leadership FMWF
Kendra played in the Concordia band with Erik from ’91-’95, then recruited him for the Detroit Lakes Community Band in 2009, where we’ve both played with him since. People always say nice things about someone who’s passed, but in Erik’s case it’s completely warranted! He was an exceptional man. Erik was very kind, gracious, and positive. He was always genuinely interested in others, and thought the best of everyone. He was a top notch percussionist who could always be counted on to nail all his parts. He would compliment his fellow members of the percussion section (even when we didn’t deserve it!).
He’ll be sincerely missed by us, and the reality that he’s not here anymore hasn’t fully sunk in. We’re thankful to have known him and that he’s more alive than ever with the Lord (and getting to see his beloved dad again!).
I (Bill) would like to share a couple messages from fellow percussionists when I told them of Erik’s passing. One said, “Beautiful man, and a kind spirit. Good example for the rest of us.” Another responded to the news with, “Erik was on his way to better health and also helping so many other people. I don’t have the words to express my feelings right now.” Another non-percussionist said, “Just talked to him backstage at the last symphony concert. Nice guy.”
I’ll always fondly remember Erik energetically scurrying around the percussion section. We look forward to seeing him again on the other side.
I also knew of him in Aberdeen days when we were much younger. I doubt he remembered this, but we played on the same piano masterclass at NSU…sometime in the early 90’s when I was in elementary school and he would have been in high school. I remember thinking that he was AMAZING, and I looked to him and his level of performance as a role model.
His kindness and talent will be missed.