Family and friends are mourning the death of Dr. Erma Ruth Ellerbroek McGuire, who passed away on November 27, 2025.
Born April 29, 1929, to Etta and Dames Ellerbroek on their family farm in Matlock, Iowa, Erma had fond memories of her time on the farm, doing chores with her father and riding ponies to school. She remained active in managing her own farm in southwestern Minnesota until 2018.
Her voracious love for learning continued throughout her adult life. After marrying and moving to St. Paul to start a family, she embarked on a long career in education, borrowing money to obtain a teaching certificate. While working as a substitute, she put herself through school with sheer grit and determination, earning bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in education.
She blazed many trails throughout her long career, dedicating her working life to education. Erma proudly became the first woman in Minnesota to hold a superintendent's license, and the first female assistant superintendent in the state.
Throughout her tenure with St. Paul Public Schools, she served in both classroom teaching and a variety of senior administrative roles, rising to the role of assistant superintendent before her retirement in 1989. Additionally, she hosted "Science with Erma McGuire" on public television, directed elementary curriculum, and led the integration of Hmong and Vietnamese communities into St. Paul Schools.
Erma also proudly served on the Board of Trustees for the St. Paul Teachers' Retirement Fund Association for 18 years, and was a beloved member of the St. Paul Bridge Club for more than 55 years.
Erma is survived by her two children, Patty (Jack) Deck of St Louis, Missouri and John (Cindy) McGuire of Bradenton, Florida. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Etta and Dames, her brothers, Cedric and Paul Ellerbroek, and her sister, Doris Ellerbroek Bonath Bieterman.
Ever the academic, Erma remained collected and matter-of-fact in even the most stressful situations, famously calling her son to let him know she was OK as the Jaws of Life were rescuing her after a bad car accident. She will also be missed for her optimism, stating more than once, "Well, if I die...".
Most of all, Erma will be missed for her passion for education, for the pride she had in her family, and the uncompromising standards she lived her life by every day.
A celebration will be held in Spring 2026 at Greenwood Cemetery in Matlock, Iowa, which is located next to the farm fields Erma so loved. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.
Born April 29, 1929, to Etta and Dames Ellerbroek on their family farm in Matlock, Iowa, Erma had fond memories of her time on the farm, doing chores with her father and riding ponies to school. She remained active in managing her own farm in southwestern Minnesota until 2018.
Her voracious love for learning continued throughout her adult life. After marrying and moving to St. Paul to start a family, she embarked on a long career in education, borrowing money to obtain a teaching certificate. While working as a substitute, she put herself through school with sheer grit and determination, earning bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in education.
She blazed many trails throughout her long career, dedicating her working life to education. Erma proudly became the first woman in Minnesota to hold a superintendent's license, and the first female assistant superintendent in the state.
Throughout her tenure with St. Paul Public Schools, she served in both classroom teaching and a variety of senior administrative roles, rising to the role of assistant superintendent before her retirement in 1989. Additionally, she hosted "Science with Erma McGuire" on public television, directed elementary curriculum, and led the integration of Hmong and Vietnamese communities into St. Paul Schools.
Erma also proudly served on the Board of Trustees for the St. Paul Teachers' Retirement Fund Association for 18 years, and was a beloved member of the St. Paul Bridge Club for more than 55 years.
Erma is survived by her two children, Patty (Jack) Deck of St Louis, Missouri and John (Cindy) McGuire of Bradenton, Florida. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Etta and Dames, her brothers, Cedric and Paul Ellerbroek, and her sister, Doris Ellerbroek Bonath Bieterman.
Ever the academic, Erma remained collected and matter-of-fact in even the most stressful situations, famously calling her son to let him know she was OK as the Jaws of Life were rescuing her after a bad car accident. She will also be missed for her optimism, stating more than once, "Well, if I die...".
Most of all, Erma will be missed for her passion for education, for the pride she had in her family, and the uncompromising standards she lived her life by every day.
A celebration will be held in Spring 2026 at Greenwood Cemetery in Matlock, Iowa, which is located next to the farm fields Erma so loved. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.
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