Paul Thomas Jersild

Paul Thomas Jersild passed into God's keeping on May 29, 2025, in Chesapeake, Virginia, a day after his 94th birthday. Survivors include his beloved wife of 71 years, Marilyn Steffensen Jersild, and their four children: Ann Simonson of Seattle and her husband Peter; Austin of Norfolk and his wife Heather; Amy of Kalamazoo, MI and her husband Igor; and Aaron of Atlanta and his wife Carmen. Also surviving are his seven grandchildren: Annika, Kirsten, Emma, Olivia, Erika, Maya and Santiago; and his great granddaughter, Clara.
Paul was born in Blair, NE, son of the Rev. Hans Christian Jersild and Carrie Sinamark Jersild. He spent his youth in Los Angeles and Chicago, where his father was a parish pastor and would later be elected president of his national church, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church. Paul received his BA degree from Dana College, his MA from the University of Nebraska, his Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary, and his doctorate in theology from the University of Münster in Germany, where he also studied for a year at the University of Heidelberg. Marilyn and Paul married in Chicago, Illinois in August 1954. In 1962, Paul was ordained in the American Lutheran Church, following his grandfather and father as a third-generation clergyman. Following two years of pastoral ministry in Palmyra, WI, Dr. Jersild began his academic career, serving as professor in the departments of religion at Luther College, Decorah, IA, and Saint Xavier University in Chicago, where he was chair of the department. He then served as Academic Dean and Professor of Theology and Ethics at two Lutheran seminaries, Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA, and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC, where he retired in 1998 with the honorary title of Professor Emeritus. He was a prolific author, publishing several dozen articles and book chapters, co-editing five editions of a widely used college and seminary textbook entitled Moral Issues and Christian Response, and authoring five books on various theological and ethical topics.
While in retirement he was a Visiting Research Professor at the University of South Carolina's Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities. Throughout his career Paul was active in professional and cultural organizations, including the ethics committees of hospitals in Columbia and Chesapeake, VA, the National Advisory Committee of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, State Chair of Common Cause in South Carolina, Norfolk's Feldman Chamber Music Society, and Bread for the World (founded by his college roommate at Dana). In 1998 he was recognized with the Siefkes Award for his ministry on behalf of the LGBTQ organization, Lutherans Concerned (now Reconciling Works). In 2003 Paul and Marilyn moved to Norfolk where they have been members of First Lutheran Church in the Ghent community. He contributed to numerous groups dedicated to inter-faith understanding and exchange. For several years he also served as a part-time chaplain at Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk.
An accomplished violinist, Paul played one season with the Omaha Symphony and several seasons with the Hyde Park Chamber Orchestra, affiliated with the University of Chicago. Paul and Marilyn especially enjoyed playing violin and piano together-with various chamber groups, for Chicago public schools on the south side of Chicago, and for nursing homes in Norfolk, Virginia.
Paul was a consistent lover of sports and physical activity. He played football in high school and college and enjoyed racquetball matches with students and friends until well in his 60s. As a regular editorial writer on religion for The State in Columbia, South Carolina, he was amused to see his most provocative contribution turn out to be an article that was less than enthusiastic about football players crossing themselves in the endzone after touchdowns. Long before the internet, he carried on a lively correspondence with Clemson and University of South Carolina football fans throughout the state. Paul will be especially missed by his family and friends for his optimism, sincerity, kindness, humor, and beautiful bass singing voice.
A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church (1301 Colley Avenue in Norfolk) on June 16, 11:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Bread for the World (www.bread.org) or First Lutheran Church in Norfolk (https://www.flcnorfolk.org/).