Ernest Henry Boekhoff, age 81, of Aplington, Iowa, was born the son of John and Mary Vanderwerf Boekhoff on January 29, 1920, in Mayhew Lake, Minnesota.

As a child Ernest moved with his family to Iowa and attended Colfax-4 country school in rural Wellsburg, Iowa. Ernest served in the United States Army during World War II, where he was a prisoner of war. His bravery earned him his most prized possessions: four Bronze Star medals and one Silver Star for surviving five major battles, and the coveted Purple Heart. On January 31, 1947, Ernest was united in marriage with Ruth Boelts at the West Friesland Presbyterian Church, rural Ackley, Iowa. They made their home and farmed in the Wellsburg area until 1958 when they moved to a farm near Aplington. In 1982, Ernest retired from farming and they moved to Aplington. During his retirement, he enjoyed carpentry work and working at Ol's Gold Seed Corn Company in Aplington during the harvest season. After suffering a stroke in 1992, Ernest resided at the Presbyterian Village in Ackley. Ernest was an active member of the West Friesland Presbyterian Church and a member of the Aplington AMVETS. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family and friends.

At 9:20 a.m. Tuesday, July 3, 2001, Ernest died at the Presbyterian Village in Ackley of natural causes.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ruth, who died in 1991, his parents, a sibling who died at birth, six brothers, Ben, Dick, Samuel, John, Albert and Lawrence Boekhoff, and eight sisters, Fannie Johnson, Anna Tjabring, Jennie Van Heiden, Ella Riebkes, Marie "Bertha" Kennegieter, Carrie Wehrman, Lorine Boekhoff and Evelyn "Patti" Lentz.

Ernest is survived by two sons and three grandchildren, Mervin Boekhoff and his wife, Kathy, of Iowa Falls and their children Melissa and T.J. and Lynn Boekhoff and his wife, Susan, of Park City, Kansas and his daughter, Jamie; three sisters, Grace Hippen and her husband, Delbert, of Wellsburg, Iowa, Esther Smith and her husband, Dale, of Conrad, Iowa, and Marlys Clark of Keokuk, Iowa; two brothers, George Boekhoff and his wife, Betty, of Wellsburg and Arnold Boekhoff and his wife, Delores, of Wellsburg; and one sister in-law Carrie Boekhoff of Wellsburg.

Funeral Services were held on Friday, July 6 at West Friesland Presbyterian Church at Ackley, with Rev. Randy Crane officiating. Organist was Stella Neymeyer; Soloist was Tako Ubben. Casketbearers were Todd Boekhoff, Darwin Boelts, Ron Lentz, Leon Boelts, Roger VanHeiden and Ron Boelts Interment was in West Friesland Cemetery at Ackley, Iowa With Full Military Rites Conducted by the Aplington AMVETS Post #102 Schwartz Funeral Chapel of Aplington was in charge of arrangements.