Former Ironwood Township resident Ervin Julius Romans, II, 43, of Danville, Calif. and a Sergeant in the Oakland Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, March 21, 2009, in Oakland. He was born Aug. 29, 1965, in Ironwood, son of Chester and Sueko (Ishimatsu) Romans, grew up on Sunset Rd. in Ironwood Township, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1983. Ervin then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he received numerous awards and citations which included nine Meritorious Masts, three Letters of Appreciation, Good Conduct Medal with one star, Special Achievement Award, Meritorious Unit Accomodation and the Navy Achievement Medal. After serving nine years in the USMC, he began his law enforcement career as a police officer for the Oakland Housing Authority. He was then hired by the Oakland Police Department where he served as a Range Master, Sergeant of Police supervising the Crime Reduction Team and as a Team Leader for the department's SWAT Team. He received the department's highest honor, The Medal of Valor. Ervin touched the hearts of many. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and loved spending time with his family and friends. Surviving are his wife, Laura "Nikki" Romans; children, Kristina Romans, Justin Romans, Kayla Romans, Kimberly Brown-Lawson, Cameron Brown-Lawson and Jaymes Silvera; parents, Chester and Sueko Romans; brothers, Arthur (Tiffany) and James Romans; a niece, Pamela Romans, and nephew, Johnathon Romans. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 4, at 11 a.m., in the Ironwood Memorial Building Municipal Auditorium, with the Rev. Wesley Baumeister, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood officiating. Full military rites will be accorded by Detachment Bulk Fuel Co. Bravo, USMC, Green Bay, Wis., in cooperation with the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard, Gogebic-Iron Marine Detachment, Marine Corps League, and other local veterans organizations. A reception will follow at the Ironwood Township Community Building, corner of Lake Rd. and Sunset Rd. in Ironwood Township. Private committal services and interment will be in the spring in Sunset Acres Cemetery, Ironwood Township. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5104 E. Margaret St., in Ironwood, and continue from 9 a.m. until service time in the Auditorium at the Memorial Building on Saturday. Pallbearers will be Jay Kangas, Steve Tiziani, Gary Ovaska, Mike Begalle, Steve and Tony Genisot, and Don Grbavcich. A Trust Fund has been established and donations can be sent to the Romans Children's Family Trust, c/o OPOA, 555 5th St., Oakland, Calif. 94607. To view Ervin's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.