Dr. Inman Adolph Hesla, 90, of Austin, Minn., died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, at Mayo Clinic Health System–Austin surrounded by his family.

Born June 2, 1922, to Inman Albert and Agnes B. (Brendsel) Hesla in Wakonda, S.D., he grew up on a farm in Clay County and graduated from Augustana Academy in Canton, S.D. After attending Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. for two years, Inman enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for 3 1/2 years. Ensign Hesla was involved in the Battle of Iwo Jima. After his discharge from the Navy, Inman returned to college at Augustana, graduating in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. He went on to study medicine at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion for two years before transferring to Southwestern Medical School/University of Texas in Dallas, where he graduated in 1951 with a doctor of medicine degree.

In the meantime, Inman married Lois B. Larson on July 24, 1949, in Sisseton, S.D. Moving to Minnesota, Dr. Hesla served an internship at Charles Miller Hospital in St. Paul. The couple moved to Austin in July of 1952. Dr. Hesla delivered 2,996 babies during his 34 years at the Austin Medical Center. In the spring of 1970, he served as a volunteer doctor during the Viet Nam war in Quang Tri. A respected member of the Austin community, Dr. Hesla was active at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, camping and bird watching. He was greatly loved and will be dearly missed by his family, friends and the Austin community.

Survivors include his wife, Lois Hesla of Austin; three sons, Todd (Karen) Hesla, Joseph (Bonnie Beckel) Hesla and Bret (Jaimie Bennett) Hesla, all of Minneapolis; one daughter, Beth (Gregory Scholtz) Hesla of Waverly, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Peter Scholtz, Rebecca Scholtz, Anna (Audun) Hepsø, Paul Scholtz, Samuel Hesla, Rosina Hesla and Jeremy Kleider; a sister, Joyce Lee of Albuquerque, New Mexico; a brother, Loren (Iris) Hesla of Dallas, Texas; many nieces, nephews, patients, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as two sisters, Arlene and Helen.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with AIM Todd Portinga officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, with a flag presentation by the American Legion Post No. 91. The family prefers that memorials be directed to the St. Olaf Church Endowment Fund or to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.