Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Former Department Head Carl Ekberg Passes

 

Contact:
Dana Schmidt, CCEE communications specialist, (515) 294-3071

Ames, Iowa – Carl Ekberg, Jr., 86, died Wednesday, May 30, in Ames, Iowa. Ekberg was a professor and department head for the Iowa State University Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering from 1959 to 1985. He retired from his teaching and research capacity at Iowa State in 1988.

“Carl Ekberg kept our department moving forward and kept a great perspective in working through concerns and difficult decisions and debates,” says Max Porter, professor of structural engineering at Iowa State. “He helped foster student organizations in their activities and helped a lot of young faculty get started.” 

During his time at Iowa State, Ekberg’s research activities focused on the improvement of design criteria for structural concrete. In particular, he participated in the development of design criteria for concrete floors reinforced with cold-formed steel decking.

“Carl meant a lot to many of us,” say Porter. “He was a true top professional in our field. He was a professional mentor to many people and was able to guide many people in getting started in our business. He also was a gentleman at all times and a great conversationalist.”  

Ekberg, who received his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Minnesota, was a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and an honorary member of the American Concrete Institute. He held life memberships in the American Railway Engineering Association, the American Society of Engineering Education, the Iowa Engineering Society, the Osborn Research Club, and the University of Minnesota M-Club. Ekberg also was a registered Professional Engineering and an honorary life member of the Iowa Engineering Society. He was a member of Chi Epsilon, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, and Tau Beta Pi honor societies.

Memorial services for Ekberg were held June 2 at Collegiate Presbyterian Church. Burial was in the Iowa State University Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Collegiate Presbyterian Church or to the Carl and Dorothy Ekberg Structural Engineering Scholarship Fund in care of the ISU Foundation.

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