Earl G. Dresser, age 93, Spring Park, passed away at Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park on Friday, July 7.
Services were held at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Hopkins at 11 a.m. Monday, July 17. A luncheon followed.
Visitation was held at the church at 10 a.m. Monday, July 17.
Earl was born and raised in Arlington. At the age of 18 he joined the U.S. Army serving in the medical service corps. After serving in the army he returned to Minnesota and earned a degree in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota in 1949. He worked for Asbury —Methodist Hospital as assistant administrator and for the downtown hospital working on the planning committee responsible for the hospital’s move to St. Louis Park in 1959. It was at this time that he met his soulmate and partner in life. After marrying Neoma Jacobson they left Minneapolis for Macomb, Ill., where Earl served as administrator at McDonough District Hospital.  It was before heading to Illinois that Earl and Nomi welcomed their first child, Robert William. Earl’s career then took him to Wisconsin where he served as  administrator for Methodist Hospital in Madison, Wis., and vice president  of professional relations for the Blue Cross of Wisconsin. It was now time for their second child, Donna Elizabeth, to make an entrance. In 1966 Earl and his family moved to Eden Prairie when he joined Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park, as its top executive.  
Earl served as president of Methodist Hospital for 20 years until his retirement in 1986. Not only did he establish the hospital’s reputation for cost-effective, quality health care, he fostered innovative medical programs to provide the best in medical care for our community.  Throughout his tenure, Earl forged bonds of cooperation and respect with the hospital’s medical staff, auxiliary, foundation and community. He contributed greatly to his profession through leadership of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE) and through service to many healthcare organizations like the Minnesota Hospital Association. He was elected chairman of the 16,500-member ACHE in 1982-83, after years of service as a governor and as a regent.  In 2010 he was awarded the Lifetime Service Award from ACHE. He served as president of the Minnesota Hospital Association in 1974 and for many years on its board of trustees. He served as the vice chairman of the board for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, was president of Health Employers, Inc., the Memorial Blood Center of Minneapolis, and on the board of directors of Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester until its reorganization with the Mayo Clinic.
During his years at Methodist, Earl encouraged development and leadership for many innovative programs including a Cancer Care Center today known as the Park Nicollet Frauenshuh Cancer Center, a Parkinson’s disease Clinic and Information Center — now Park Nicollet Struthers Parkinson’s Center and an Eating Disorder program, now Park Nicollet Melrose Center. He developed expertise in and implemented the newly developed federal Medicare program.  He assisted many young professionals entering hospital administration, fostering 25 teaching programs at Methodist Hospital preparing men and women for a variety of careers in health care, while serving as preceptor and faculty member at the University of Minnesota in hospital administration.
Under his administration, Methodist undertook five major expansion programs and added a number of health-care services to better serve the community. He led the hospital in developing a one-day Surgery Center, added a second linear accelerator in a new area dedicated to radiation therapy and initiated open heart surgery in 1985 along with a newly updated cardiac catheterization laboratory.  He directed the renovation of the hospital’s nursery, doubling its space and adding a Level II nursery service.  He encouraged starting an Institute for Eating Disorders and an Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.  He established the Senior Connection in 1985 to help area seniors receive the best in healthcare and the Physician Connection in 1986 to provide a toll-free way for physicians from throughout our five-state area to contact members of Methodist Hospital medical staff for consultation and referral.    
In 1986, the Park Nicollet Foundation established the Earl G. Dresser Volunteer Service Award to recognize and honor volunteers whose contributions to the hospital mission are truly notable and reflect Earl’s own leadership commitment. As Earl has noted, “Volunteerism, in its many forms, including the great service of the Foundation, has been an indispensable contribution to the success of Methodist Hospital in serving our community over the years.”
In local civic activities Earl served as a member of the board of directors of the Twin West Chamber of Commerce, member of the St. Louis Park Rotary Club and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow for 20 years.  In 1984 he was presented with the “Pride of the Park” award, for his outstanding leadership and citizenship in serving the local community.  
Earl leaves a legacy of strong health care leadership and innovation, respect and admiration of the many people he has taught and worked with throughout the years.  His caring and compassionate spirit will be deeply missed.   
In 2011 he and Neoma moved into a Presbyterian Home in Minnetonka and three years later moved into Presbyterian Homes Lake Minnetonka Shores in Spring Park.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife Neoma Dresser. He is survived by son, Robert (Bob) and daughter, Donna.
In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to Park Nicollet Foundation, 6500 Excelsior, MN 55426 and/or Shepherd