Ernie was a Mennonite pastor, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He was a third generation pastor on both his mother and father's side. Three of his brothers in law were also pastors.
Ernie attended Bluffton College in Bluffton, Ohio and graduated from the Mennonite Seminary. He pastored churches in Allentown and Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ, Freeman, SD, Meridian, MS, and Fargo, ND, among others. Ernie was Northern District Conference Minister for the General Conference Mennonite Church. He had a heart for those who were oppressed and less fortunate, and went out of his way to help people.
Ernie was a "go-getter" all of his life. He loved people and served as a minister with intense enthusiasm. My mother was close in age to her only brother, and she told many funny stories about Ernie and their skirmishes growing up.
He met his wife, Lila Penner, of Mt. Lake MN during a Mennonite Voluntary Service term in Mississippi.
He was diagnosed late in his life with Huntington's Disease, and had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He passed away in the company of his family, who describe his last moments as "miraculous".
Ernie was a Mennonite pastor, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He was a third generation pastor on both his mother and father's side. Three of his brothers in law were also pastors.
Ernie attended Bluffton College in Bluffton, Ohio and graduated from the Mennonite Seminary. He pastored churches in Allentown and Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ, Freeman, SD, Meridian, MS, and Fargo, ND, among others. Ernie was Northern District Conference Minister for the General Conference Mennonite Church. He had a heart for those who were oppressed and less fortunate, and went out of his way to help people.
Ernie was a "go-getter" all of his life. He loved people and served as a minister with intense enthusiasm. My mother was close in age to her only brother, and she told many funny stories about Ernie and their skirmishes growing up.
He met his wife, Lila Penner, of Mt. Lake MN during a Mennonite Voluntary Service term in Mississippi.
He was diagnosed late in his life with Huntington's Disease, and had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He passed away in the company of his family, who describe his last moments as "miraculous".
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