Ernest Jacob Hartnagle
08/27/1925 – 05/19/2019
After almost a century of life, Ernest “Ernie” Hartnagle, 93, of Kiowa, CO, passed away on Sunday, May 19. The adored husband, devoted family man, war hero, and legendary dog breeder joined in heaven his cherished wife, Elaine, and beloved eldest son, Joseph.
A Colorado native, Ernie grew up in the Boulder Valley on his family’s 90-acre farm. During World War II, he proudly served for two-and-a-half years in the Navy’s 7th Fleet until the end of the war. Deployed in the Pacific, he earned the Philippian Liberation Medal for his role in emancipating the nation’s citizens from Japanese rule.
At age 20, Ernie returned from the war. His father had died while Ernie was overseas and he took on the responsibility of managing the family farm, supporting his mother, two younger brothers and sister. He supplemented the farm’s income by working for his uncle as a cowboy, trailing cattle on the steep slopes of the Gore Range, on land that is now the Vail Ski Resort. He graduated Colorado State University with a degree in agriculture.
Ernie’s bachelorhood ended shortly after meeting Elaine Gibson, the daughter of a pioneer ranching family. The couple wed following a whirlwind romance. The union resulted in five children: Jeanne Joy, Christine, Joseph, Jim, and the youngest, Carol Ann.
In 1953, the couple acquired a farm dog named Snipper, an event that would change the course of their lives. In 1955, Ernie and Elaine founded Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds and began breeding and training what was then a rare western farm breed.
As founding members of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA), the Hartnagle’s played an outsized role in the breed’s development and growth. Ernie served on the ASCA Board of Directors, then took the role of club president from 1976 to 1978. He helped create the club’s stockdog program and the entire family helped draft the original breed standard, the “blueprint” for the ideal Australian Shepherd dog.
The family’s pioneering activities helped popularize the Australian Shepherd, now ranked among the 20 most popular breeds in America. ASCA recognizes Hartnagle’s Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds as its No. 1 Hall of Fame Kennel and No. 1 Hall of Fame Excellent Kennel.
During his life, Ernie also worked for a prominent Quarter horse ranch, performed a “tour of duty” in the US Postal Service, and served for decades in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency of the US Government, from which he retired.
Ernest Hartnagle is survived by four of his children, his brother Fred, sister Marilyn, four grandchildren, and many hundreds of Australian Shepherds across the world.
Services will be held 11 AM, Friday May 24 at Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery, 6739 S. Boulder Road Boulder, CO, followed by a lunch reception at Coal Creek Golf Course, 585 W. Dillon Rd., Louisville, CO
08/27/1925 – 05/19/2019
After almost a century of life, Ernest “Ernie” Hartnagle, 93, of Kiowa, CO, passed away on Sunday, May 19. The adored husband, devoted family man, war hero, and legendary dog breeder joined in heaven his cherished wife, Elaine, and beloved eldest son, Joseph.
A Colorado native, Ernie grew up in the Boulder Valley on his family’s 90-acre farm. During World War II, he proudly served for two-and-a-half years in the Navy’s 7th Fleet until the end of the war. Deployed in the Pacific, he earned the Philippian Liberation Medal for his role in emancipating the nation’s citizens from Japanese rule.
At age 20, Ernie returned from the war. His father had died while Ernie was overseas and he took on the responsibility of managing the family farm, supporting his mother, two younger brothers and sister. He supplemented the farm’s income by working for his uncle as a cowboy, trailing cattle on the steep slopes of the Gore Range, on land that is now the Vail Ski Resort. He graduated Colorado State University with a degree in agriculture.
Ernie’s bachelorhood ended shortly after meeting Elaine Gibson, the daughter of a pioneer ranching family. The couple wed following a whirlwind romance. The union resulted in five children: Jeanne Joy, Christine, Joseph, Jim, and the youngest, Carol Ann.
In 1953, the couple acquired a farm dog named Snipper, an event that would change the course of their lives. In 1955, Ernie and Elaine founded Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds and began breeding and training what was then a rare western farm breed.
As founding members of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA), the Hartnagle’s played an outsized role in the breed’s development and growth. Ernie served on the ASCA Board of Directors, then took the role of club president from 1976 to 1978. He helped create the club’s stockdog program and the entire family helped draft the original breed standard, the “blueprint” for the ideal Australian Shepherd dog.
The family’s pioneering activities helped popularize the Australian Shepherd, now ranked among the 20 most popular breeds in America. ASCA recognizes Hartnagle’s Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds as its No. 1 Hall of Fame Kennel and No. 1 Hall of Fame Excellent Kennel.
During his life, Ernie also worked for a prominent Quarter horse ranch, performed a “tour of duty” in the US Postal Service, and served for decades in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency of the US Government, from which he retired.
Ernest Hartnagle is survived by four of his children, his brother Fred, sister Marilyn, four grandchildren, and many hundreds of Australian Shepherds across the world.
Services will be held 11 AM, Friday May 24 at Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery, 6739 S. Boulder Road Boulder, CO, followed by a lunch reception at Coal Creek Golf Course, 585 W. Dillon Rd., Louisville, CO
Ernest Jacob Hartnagle
08/27/1925 – 05/19/2019
After almost a century of life, Ernest “Ernie” Hartnagle, 93, of Kiowa, CO, passed away on Sunday, May 19. The adored husband, devoted family man, war hero, and legendary dog breeder joined in heaven his cherished wife, Elaine, and beloved eldest son, Joseph.
A Colorado native, Ernie grew up in the Boulder Valley on his family’s 90-acre farm. During World War II, he proudly served for two-and-a-half years in the Navy’s 7th Fleet until the end of the war. Deployed in the Pacific, he earned the Philippian Liberation Medal for his role in emancipating the nation’s citizens from Japanese rule.
At age 20, Ernie returned from the war. His father had died while Ernie was overseas and he took on the responsibility of managing the family farm, supporting his mother, two younger brothers and sister. He supplemented the farm’s income by working for his uncle as a cowboy, trailing cattle on the steep slopes of the Gore Range, on land that is now the Vail Ski Resort. He graduated Colorado State University with a degree in agriculture.
Ernie’s bachelorhood ended shortly after meeting Elaine Gibson, the daughter of a pioneer ranching family. The couple wed following a whirlwind romance. The union resulted in five children: Jeanne Joy, Christine, Joseph, Jim, and the youngest, Carol Ann.
In 1953, the couple acquired a farm dog named Snipper, an event that would change the course of their lives. In 1955, Ernie and Elaine founded Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds and began breeding and training what was then a rare western farm breed.
As founding members of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA), the Hartnagle’s played an outsized role in the breed’s development and growth. Ernie served on the ASCA Board of Directors, then took the role of club president from 1976 to 1978. He helped create the club’s stockdog program and the entire family helped draft the original breed standard, the “blueprint” for the ideal Australian Shepherd dog.
The family’s pioneering activities helped popularize the Australian Shepherd, now ranked among the 20 most popular breeds in America. ASCA recognizes Hartnagle’s Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds as its No. 1 Hall of Fame Kennel and No. 1 Hall of Fame Excellent Kennel.
During his life, Ernie also worked for a prominent Quarter horse ranch, performed a “tour of duty” in the US Postal Service, and served for decades in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency of the US Government, from which he retired.
Ernest Hartnagle is survived by four of his children, his brother Fred, sister Marilyn, four grandchildren, and many hundreds of Australian Shepherds across the world.
Services will be held 11 AM, Friday May 24 at Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery, 6739 S. Boulder Road Boulder, CO, followed by a lunch reception at Coal Creek Golf Course, 585 W. Dillon Rd., Louisville, CO
08/27/1925 – 05/19/2019
After almost a century of life, Ernest “Ernie” Hartnagle, 93, of Kiowa, CO, passed away on Sunday, May 19. The adored husband, devoted family man, war hero, and legendary dog breeder joined in heaven his cherished wife, Elaine, and beloved eldest son, Joseph.
A Colorado native, Ernie grew up in the Boulder Valley on his family’s 90-acre farm. During World War II, he proudly served for two-and-a-half years in the Navy’s 7th Fleet until the end of the war. Deployed in the Pacific, he earned the Philippian Liberation Medal for his role in emancipating the nation’s citizens from Japanese rule.
At age 20, Ernie returned from the war. His father had died while Ernie was overseas and he took on the responsibility of managing the family farm, supporting his mother, two younger brothers and sister. He supplemented the farm’s income by working for his uncle as a cowboy, trailing cattle on the steep slopes of the Gore Range, on land that is now the Vail Ski Resort. He graduated Colorado State University with a degree in agriculture.
Ernie’s bachelorhood ended shortly after meeting Elaine Gibson, the daughter of a pioneer ranching family. The couple wed following a whirlwind romance. The union resulted in five children: Jeanne Joy, Christine, Joseph, Jim, and the youngest, Carol Ann.
In 1953, the couple acquired a farm dog named Snipper, an event that would change the course of their lives. In 1955, Ernie and Elaine founded Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds and began breeding and training what was then a rare western farm breed.
As founding members of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA), the Hartnagle’s played an outsized role in the breed’s development and growth. Ernie served on the ASCA Board of Directors, then took the role of club president from 1976 to 1978. He helped create the club’s stockdog program and the entire family helped draft the original breed standard, the “blueprint” for the ideal Australian Shepherd dog.
The family’s pioneering activities helped popularize the Australian Shepherd, now ranked among the 20 most popular breeds in America. ASCA recognizes Hartnagle’s Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds as its No. 1 Hall of Fame Kennel and No. 1 Hall of Fame Excellent Kennel.
During his life, Ernie also worked for a prominent Quarter horse ranch, performed a “tour of duty” in the US Postal Service, and served for decades in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency of the US Government, from which he retired.
Ernest Hartnagle is survived by four of his children, his brother Fred, sister Marilyn, four grandchildren, and many hundreds of Australian Shepherds across the world.
Services will be held 11 AM, Friday May 24 at Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery, 6739 S. Boulder Road Boulder, CO, followed by a lunch reception at Coal Creek Golf Course, 585 W. Dillon Rd., Louisville, CO
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