Robert J. Ernst
Jan. 20, 1936 - Jan. 15, 2008
GOSHEN - Robert J. Ernst, 71, died at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008, in his home. He was born on Jan. 20, 1936, in Mishawaka, IN, to Joseph Bernard and Theresa (Hums) Ernst. He had lived his entire life in St. Joseph County until 2004.
He was a science teacher for 41 years with the Mishawaka schools and St. Mary's College for 21 years. He retired in 2000. He also ran the planetarium for the city for 21 years.
On June 22, 1968, he married Juanita in Mishawaka. She passed away on Feb. 2, 1999. He then married LaVonne (Graber) Boughner on June 11, 2004, in Goshen, IN. She survives.
Robert Ernst is also survived by his two daughters, Susanna Marie (Frank Suerth) Ernst and Rosemary (Jeffrey) Ernst Weghorst; two stepsons, Nathan and Zacary Boughner; a granddaughter, Charlotte Rose Weghorst; siblings, Joan Larson, Angela (George) Bliha, Dorothy (James) Gulde, Louise Collins, Helen Mauer and J. Anthony (Carol) Ernst.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, in the Thallemer-Goethals-Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. Third St., Mishawaka, IN 46544, with a 5:30 p.m. Rosary. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill St., Mishawaka. The burial will be at Southlawn Cemetery of South Bend.
Robert Joseph Ernst was a 1954 graduate of St. Joseph High School, a 1958 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, bachelor's, with a masters from Notre Dame in 1960. He then studied at the University of Berkley for his planetarium. He was also a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Mishawaka, St. John's Evangelist Catholic Church of Goshen, and the Knights of Columbus in Goshen. He was a national park ranger for nine years in Washington, D.C., prior to teaching. He was 1998 keynote speaker for the Armand N. Spitz Memorial Lecturer for the Great Lakes Planetarium Assoc., and the 1999 Teacher of the Year for Mishawaka Community Schools. He was loved by all who knew him and will be missed by his friends and family. Condolences may be sent to yoderculpfuneralhome.com.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 1/16/2008.
Robert J. Ernst
Jan. 20, 1936 - Jan. 15, 2008
GOSHEN - Robert J. Ernst, 71, died at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008, in his home. He was born on Jan. 20, 1936, in Mishawaka, IN, to Joseph Bernard and Theresa (Hums) Ernst. He had lived his entire life in St. Joseph County until 2004.
He was a science teacher for 41 years with the Mishawaka schools and St. Mary's College for 21 years. He retired in 2000. He also ran the planetarium for the city for 21 years.
On June 22, 1968, he married Juanita in Mishawaka. She passed away on Feb. 2, 1999. He then married LaVonne (Graber) Boughner on June 11, 2004, in Goshen, IN. She survives.
Robert Ernst is also survived by his two daughters, Susanna Marie (Frank Suerth) Ernst and Rosemary (Jeffrey) Ernst Weghorst; two stepsons, Nathan and Zacary Boughner; a granddaughter, Charlotte Rose Weghorst; siblings, Joan Larson, Angela (George) Bliha, Dorothy (James) Gulde, Louise Collins, Helen Mauer and J. Anthony (Carol) Ernst.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, in the Thallemer-Goethals-Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. Third St., Mishawaka, IN 46544, with a 5:30 p.m. Rosary. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill St., Mishawaka. The burial will be at Southlawn Cemetery of South Bend.
Robert Joseph Ernst was a 1954 graduate of St. Joseph High School, a 1958 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, bachelor's, with a masters from Notre Dame in 1960. He then studied at the University of Berkley for his planetarium. He was also a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Mishawaka, St. John's Evangelist Catholic Church of Goshen, and the Knights of Columbus in Goshen. He was a national park ranger for nine years in Washington, D.C., prior to teaching. He was 1998 keynote speaker for the Armand N. Spitz Memorial Lecturer for the Great Lakes Planetarium Assoc., and the 1999 Teacher of the Year for Mishawaka Community Schools. He was loved by all who knew him and will be missed by his friends and family. Condolences may be sent to yoderculpfuneralhome.com.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 1/16/2008.
