George W. Ernst
August 10, 1929 — July 22, 2007
George William Ernst was born on August 10, 1929, to George and Matilda (Reis) Ernst in Bellevue, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph�s Catholic Church in Bellevue. George attended and graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in 1947 where he played basketball. As a young adult, George was a proud member of the Bellevue Braves baseball team.
George was united in marriage on May 3, 1952, to Joanne Daniels in the Chapel at the Marine Corp Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Five children were born to this union: Timothy, Georgiann, Brenda, Thomas, and Brian.
After high school, George went to work for the John Deere Tractor Works in Dubuque. George left this to work with his father in the concrete contracting business. Because of the seasonal nature of this work, George found winter-time work as a brush cutter for the local telephone company. 43-years later George retired from this same company as an Area Manager in Harlan. George often referred to this as a very long winter.
George�s career with the telephone company was interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. During his duty, George achieved the rank of Sergeant. George served the Marines as an installer repairman for the base telephone system at Camp Lejeune North Carolina. Following Honorable Discharge from the Marines, George and Joanne returned to Bellevue to begin their family life.
George continued his work with the telephone company in Bellevue until accepting a transfer to Avoca, Iowa in 1963. In 1969 George was transferred to Harlan where he worked until his retirement in January 1991. During his career with the telephone company George held the position of brush cutter, construction foreman, installation repairman, supervisor and area manager. George was very proud of his long career with the telephone company and was an inspiration to his three sons who have also pursued careers in the electrical and electronics industries.
During his life, George has been a member of St. Joseph�s Catholic Church in Bellevue, St. Mary�s Catholic Church in Avoca and St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, where he was an usher and recently sang in the Latin Mass Choir.
George�s hobbies included woodworking, leather crafting, coaching Little League baseball, and watching his children and grandchildren in their various activities. George was an active member of the American Legion. George had also been a member of the Kiwanas Club in Harlan.
George died on Sunday July 22, 2007at Myrtue Memorial Hospital having attained the age of seventy-seven years, eleven months and twelve days. He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years Joanne Ernst of Harlan, Iowa; his children: Timothy Ernst and his wife Jana of Carlisle, Iowa, Georgiann and her husband Robin Andersen of Minden, Iowa, Brenda and her husband William Arkfeld of Portsmouth, Iowa, Thomas Ernst and his wife Nancy of Lincoln, Nebraska and Brian Ernst and his wife Theresa of Papillion, Nebraska; thirteen grandchildren; his brother Eugene Ernst of Bellevue, Iowa; his sisters: Rosalyn Hill, Elizabeth and her husband Fred Stoecken, Loella Carter, and Bonnie and her husband Bob Blake all of Bellevue, Iowa, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, July 25, 2007, with Rev. John Dorton conducting the 10:30 AM service at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Thomas D. Ernst, Haylee Ernst, and Braydon Ernst. Serving as casket bearers were Robin Andersen, Joshua Obrecht, William Arkfeld, Timothy Ernst, Brian Ernst, Jeremy Ernst, Daniel Ernst, and Thomas Ernst. Interment was held at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan.
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George was united in marriage on May 3, 1952, to Joanne Daniels in the Chapel at the Marine Corp Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Five children were born to this union: Timothy, Georgiann, Brenda, Thomas, and Brian.
After high school, George went to work for the John Deere Tractor Works in Dubuque. George left this to work with his father in the concrete contracting business. Because of the seasonal nature of this work, George found winter-time work as a brush cutter for the local telephone company. 43-years later George retired from this same company as an Area Manager in Harlan. George often referred to this as a very long winter.
George�s career with the telephone company was interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. During his duty, George achieved the rank of Sergeant. George served the Marines as an installer repairman for the base telephone system at Camp Lejeune North Carolina. Following Honorable Discharge from the Marines, George and Joanne returned to Bellevue to begin their family life.
George continued his work with the telephone company in Bellevue until accepting a transfer to Avoca, Iowa in 1963. In 1969 George was transferred to Harlan where he worked until his retirement in January 1991. During his career with the telephone company George held the position of brush cutter, construction foreman, installation repairman, supervisor and area manager. George was very proud of his long career with the telephone company and was an inspiration to his three sons who have also pursued careers in the electrical and electronics industries.
During his life, George has been a member of St. Joseph�s Catholic Church in Bellevue, St. Mary�s Catholic Church in Avoca and St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, where he was an usher and recently sang in the Latin Mass Choir.
George�s hobbies included woodworking, leather crafting, coaching Little League baseball, and watching his children and grandchildren in their various activities. George was an active member of the American Legion. George had also been a member of the Kiwanas Club in Harlan.
George died on Sunday July 22, 2007at Myrtue Memorial Hospital having attained the age of seventy-seven years, eleven months and twelve days. He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years Joanne Ernst of Harlan, Iowa; his children: Timothy Ernst and his wife Jana of Carlisle, Iowa, Georgiann and her husband Robin Andersen of Minden, Iowa, Brenda and her husband William Arkfeld of Portsmouth, Iowa, Thomas Ernst and his wife Nancy of Lincoln, Nebraska and Brian Ernst and his wife Theresa of Papillion, Nebraska; thirteen grandchildren; his brother Eugene Ernst of Bellevue, Iowa; his sisters: Rosalyn Hill, Elizabeth and her husband Fred Stoecken, Loella Carter, and Bonnie and her husband Bob Blake all of Bellevue, Iowa, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, July 25, 2007, with Rev. John Dorton conducting the 10:30 AM service at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Thomas D. Ernst, Haylee Ernst, and Braydon Ernst. Serving as casket bearers were Robin Andersen, Joshua Obrecht, William Arkfeld, Timothy Ernst, Brian Ernst, Jeremy Ernst, Daniel Ernst, and Thomas Ernst. Interment was held at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan.
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