A K-State student died Monday of natural causes at his apartment in Manhattan, according to Heather Reed, assistant dean of student life.
    Derrick Elsen, senior in marketing, was well respected by those around him, Reed said.
    He graduated from Council Grove High School in 2003.
    Elsen suffered optic nerve damage in a May 25, 2003 boating accident, causing him to become blind, according to a Facebook group named for him. According to the group’s Web site, it was created to help him raise money for a stem-cell operation to restore his eyesight.
    However, those who knew Elsen said he had a positive attitude.
    “He was a charmer,” said Jaclyn Anderson, assistant director of Disability Support Services. “He was very outgoing and gregarious. The whole staff fell in love with him.
    “We were looking forward to him coming in next week, so this was a real blow.”
    Reed said the university has communicated with the family.
    “We have spoken to the family and shared our sadness and condolences with them,” she said. “He was a wonderful student — a joy to all who knew him.”
    Memorial services will be from 6-8 tonight at the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Council Grove, Kan. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m.  Friday at the Council Grove Christian Church.
    Reed said she and many faculty members from the College of Business Administration will be in attendance.
    Contributions can be made to the National Federation of the Blind in care of the funeral home. Reed said the family has ruled out a campus memorial service at this time.