Colonel Norman Ehresman

Col. Norman D. Ehresman, originally from Mishawaka, Ind., graduated from Purdue University and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on Aug. 6, 1956. His first assignment was Battery Motor Officer of the 393rd Field Artillery Battalion. He joined the 100th Division in July 1971 as Operations Officer in the 2nd Battalion, 399th Regiment of the 1st Brigade and was named Battalion Commander in December 1976.
After serving as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 for the 100th Division and as Deputy Commander for the 2nd Brigade, Col. Ehresman left the Division to become the Commandant of the 2074th USAR School, where he received his Colonel’s insignia in December 1980. In August 1983, he was named Assistant Division Commander-2, a tribute to his leadership abilities. He was serving in this capacity at the time of his death on Nov. 20, 1983.
In 1984, he was inducted into the Corridor of the Century, a prestigious honor given to those who have contributed to the 100th Division. In addition to his positions with the Army Reserves, Col. Ehresman was also the Director of Education Services at WKU’s College of Education.
Known for his warmth and his enthusiasm for duty, he left a void in the lives of those with whom he served and those who knew him, not only as a fine educator, but as a great leader, a skilled officer, and a professional soldier. The Col. Norman Ehresman Scholarship Fund was established after his death to support a senior member of WKU’s ROTC program who is pursuing a major in Military Science.
Col. Ehresman was married to Sue Coon of Angola, Ind., on Sept. 1, 1956. They moved to Fort Sill, Okla., where he was on active duty. Through his military service, the couple moved several times and eventually settled in Bowling Green, Ky., in 1969 when he received a position at Western Kentucky University. In 1971, they moved to a farm, where she lived until her passing on May 5, 2020.

The Ehresmans had three daughters: Dr. Cindy L. Ehresman, Peggy S. Ehresman, and Linda L. Jenkins (Alan); and one granddaughter, Deanna M. Jenkins.

Mrs. Ehresman received an Associate of Arts degree in Real Estate in 1981 from WKU, and she sold real estate with Tarter Realty & Auction Company. She was the bookkeeper for many years at Internal Medicine Associates and later PrimeCare Medicine Associates.

Mrs. Ehresman was a strong believer in community and was a member of several different groups and organizations, including the WKU Faculty Wives Club, Warren County Homemakers, Warren County Extension Office, Kentucky Extension Advisory Council, her longtime Canasta card groups, and the Society for Lifelong Learning.
After her passing, her name was added to the scholarship to recognize her support of education and the ROTC program at WKU. She greatly enjoyed meeting the cadets who received the scholarship and supporting them at the beginning of their military careers.