David Seilstad

David Seilstad, 61, of Council Bluffs died unexpectedly on Dec. 15, 2020.

David was born in Park River, ND to Oris and Vivian Seilstad and grew up on a large farm in Fordville, ND. He graduated Fordville High School in , then went on to attend University of Minnesota at Crookston where he played collegiate football and basketball. He was also a member of the Farmhouse Fraternity.

Always a risk-taker, David became a 4-H ambassador with the International Four-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) program in 1982 and taught agriculture to youth in Thailand for two years. He also met a missionary while attending language school there and obeyed the Gospel.
When he returned to the U.S., he accepted a position at the National 4-H Center in Washington D.C.. While he loved D.C., he missed the Midwest, so he took a job as a district seed representative with PAG seeds in 1986.

He began working for Iowa State University Extension in West Pott. In 1987. He served the region as a youth field specialist for the next 29 years before he retired. He received numerous awards for his innovative programming and dedication to youth.

Retirement didn’t last long. David soon accepted a position at Iowa Western, and then moved to UNO’s Academic Career Development Center.

David received his B.S. in agronomy from the University of Minnesota at Crookston, his Masters in Urban Development from UNO, and was working on a doctorate in organizational leadership at UNO.

In 1987, David met the love of his life Lorna “Lori” Kinney, and they married in 1990. They have three children: Parker, Caroline, and Emma.

But these facts do little to tell who David really was. It doesn’t tell you he hated mayonnaise, mustard, and celery, or that he loved SPAM and lefse. It doesn’t tell you how much he loved to talk to his sisters on the phone or play with the new 3-D printer his mother gave him.
David gave 110% to everything he was passionate about. Through his work in 4-H, he was blessed to touch the lives of many families, encourage youth to excel, and work with exceptional colleagues. No counselor who worked at one of the SWIA regional camps he oversaw or youth who participated in one of his First Lego League teams left without growing and being changed. Whether it was in teaching biotechnology in area schools, shooting off rockets at a day camp, or teaching about butterflies, he was excited about the subject and made you excited as well.

He was even more passionate about his love for the Lord and about his family. When the children were little, he told each them his job was to help them “grow up big and strong and healthy and to love God with all their heart.” He was an elder at the McPherson Ave. Church of Christ, where he also led singing and taught classes. He also served as a youth minister for over sixteen years.

David was preceded in death by his grandparents Oscar and Ella Seilstad and Stanley and Marion Infeld; his father Oris Seilstad; and his in-laws Lester and Lorna Kinney.

He is survived by his wife Lori, son Parker, and daughters Caroline and Emma, all of Council Bluffs; his mother Vivian Seilstad of Brainerd, MN; sister Jeanne (Arlan) Marttila of St. Paul, MN; and sister Julie (Jeff) Johnson of St. Cloud, MN; sister-in-law Andrea (Bill) Leinen, brothers-in law Tom (Valerie) Kinney and Troy (Caronna) Kinney all of Council Bluffs, his fur-baby Honey, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, colleagues, and friends.

He was a big man with an even bigger heart who made a big impact so many lives. He leaves a David-sized hole in our hearts and will be missed.

Open viewing and visitation will be held from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Friday, December 18, 2020. The family will be present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 AM at McPherson Ave Church of Christ on Saturday, December 19, 2020. Interment is in the Garner Township Cemetery.