Ernest "Ernie" Schnack
July 24, 1927 — August 6, 2014
Ernest “Ernie” Schnack, Jr. was born on July 24, 1927 to Ernest and Bertha (Kay) Schnack in Portsmouth, Iowa. He was baptized in the Lutheran Church and later joined St. Michael’s Catholic Church.
After graduating valedictorian of the Class of 1944 from Tennant High School, Ernie went to business school in Omaha, Nebraska. He then returned to Shelby County to work for Mel White at his Oldsmobile/Cadillac dealership as Oldsmobile was his car of choice.
On January 18, 1951, Ernie was inducted into the United States Army. He served during the Korean War until receiving his honorable discharge on October 20, 1952.
He was united in marriage to Rose Ann Williams on February 19, 1955 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa, where they remained lifelong members. They became parents to four children: Randy, Jayne, Galen, and Susie.
One of the highlights of his career was when he and Rose Ann toured the Oldsmobile factory and drove a brand new 1959 Oldsmobile off the factory floor and to his garage. And of course, it was in his favorite color - red.
He next worked for Sidle’s Auto Parts Company before purchasing his own Big A auto parts store in 1969 on the square in Harlan. He eventually expanded his business to include a store in Oakland, Iowa in 1976.
He retired from the parts business in 1998. He spent five years working with Z C Sterling and five years with Bruce’s Appliance, both in Harlan. He was a fifty-plus-year member of the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 where he served as Adjutant General for fifteen years, as well as a member of the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941, and the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1741 in Earling.
Ernie enjoyed working in his yard, spending time with his children and attending his grandchildren’s activities. He and Rose Ann were good dance partners and their love of dancing was evident.
Ernie died on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-seven years and thirteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents Bertha and Ernest; brothers Elmer, Arnold, and Mervin Schnack; and sisters Theresa Davis and Wilma Olson.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years Rose Ann Schnack of Harlan, Iowa; children: Randy Schnack and his wife Teresa of Oakland, Iowa, Jayne and her husband Mark Kohorst of Harlan, Iowa, Galen Schnack and his wife JoAnn of Westphalia, Iowa, and Susie and her husband Mark Kloewer of Defiance, Iowa; twelve grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; other family members and many friends.
PDF Printable Version
After graduating valedictorian of the Class of 1944 from Tennant High School, Ernie went to business school in Omaha, Nebraska. He then returned to Shelby County to work for Mel White at his Oldsmobile/Cadillac dealership as Oldsmobile was his car of choice.
On January 18, 1951, Ernie was inducted into the United States Army. He served during the Korean War until receiving his honorable discharge on October 20, 1952.
He was united in marriage to Rose Ann Williams on February 19, 1955 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa, where they remained lifelong members. They became parents to four children: Randy, Jayne, Galen, and Susie.
One of the highlights of his career was when he and Rose Ann toured the Oldsmobile factory and drove a brand new 1959 Oldsmobile off the factory floor and to his garage. And of course, it was in his favorite color - red.
He next worked for Sidle’s Auto Parts Company before purchasing his own Big A auto parts store in 1969 on the square in Harlan. He eventually expanded his business to include a store in Oakland, Iowa in 1976.
He retired from the parts business in 1998. He spent five years working with Z C Sterling and five years with Bruce’s Appliance, both in Harlan. He was a fifty-plus-year member of the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 where he served as Adjutant General for fifteen years, as well as a member of the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941, and the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1741 in Earling.
Ernie enjoyed working in his yard, spending time with his children and attending his grandchildren’s activities. He and Rose Ann were good dance partners and their love of dancing was evident.
Ernie died on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-seven years and thirteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents Bertha and Ernest; brothers Elmer, Arnold, and Mervin Schnack; and sisters Theresa Davis and Wilma Olson.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years Rose Ann Schnack of Harlan, Iowa; children: Randy Schnack and his wife Teresa of Oakland, Iowa, Jayne and her husband Mark Kohorst of Harlan, Iowa, Galen Schnack and his wife JoAnn of Westphalia, Iowa, and Susie and her husband Mark Kloewer of Defiance, Iowa; twelve grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; other family members and many friends.
PDF Printable Version
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ernest "Ernie" Schnack, please visit our flower store.