WILLIAM HAYES KERSTING

WILLIAM (BILL) HAYES KERSTING
William (Bill) Hayes Kersting, 88, passed away on January 7, 2025. He was a loving, kind, and patient husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, and professor who will be deeply missed. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Joanne, his children Hans and Kathy, daughter-in-law Pam and their families, his brother Chris of Yuba City, CA and his sister Ada Randall of Taos. Bill had 6 grandchildren who knew him as Pappy Bill and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in passing by his beloved son, Michael, his brother Raymond and his sister Tess Reis.
Born in Santa Fe, NM, Bill was a life-long New Mexican. His early life was shared with his parents and four siblings. They were faithful and very close and they remained this way throughout his life.
Bill attended and graduated from New Mexico State University studying Electrical Engineering and never left. He joined the faculty at NMSU.
He came a respected and admired Professor of Electrical engineering for 40 years. Bill established the NMSU Electric Utility Management Program to meet the need for Master's degree training in electrical engineering. Bill authored Distribution System Modeling and Analysis used as a textbook in graduate programs throughout the world and translated into many languages.
One of his favorite pastimes in retirement was walking his beagles through the NM desert as they picked up the scent of nearby rabbits. Bill and Joanne shared a deep love for music and it was how they met. For years, Bill sang in church and community choirs. His family recalls Bill watching football on TV on the weekends on mute, while 'Live at the Metropolitan Opera' blared from the stereo!
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Michael Ross Kersting AIA Endowed Scholarship fund to benefit students of the School of Architecture at North Carolina State University.
A Celebration of Life will be held in honor of Bill at his home in Las Cruces on January 25 at 3:30pm. Email williamhkersting@gmail.com for the address (or livestream link). Bill's family thanks the many devoted caregivers who cared for him.