Wayne D. Ernst

Wayne D. Ernst, 85, a resident of Eldridge, Iowa died on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at his home.
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, February 1, 2008 at Faith Lutheran Church of Eldridge. Rev. Daniel Mixdorf, pastor of the church will officiate. His grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Anderson, Dwight Brockhouse, Mike Mohr, Rick Eller, Mark Copeley, Alan Kluever and Henry Storjohann. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church. Chambers Funeral Home of Eldridge is assisting the family with arrangements.
Wayne was born on December 19, 1922 to Charles & Lena (Bergmann) Ernst in rural Cresco, Iowa. He was born moments after his beloved twin brother, Wallace J. He married his one and only love, Norma Jeanne Eaton on August 25, 1944 in Cresco. This love endured throughout Wayne’s entire life.
They farmed in rural Cresco where their first daughter was born, Jeanne Patricia. They moved to Scott County in 1953 where they welcomed the birth of Marijo Dee.
The move to Scott County enhanced their lives with nearby family family and many friends.
After learning the well-drilling trade from Loring Winslow, Wayne went on to own & operate his own water well drilling business for over 3 decades. He and Norma shared the day-to-day responsibilities of this business together. Even years later, he enjoyed driving through the countryside and reminiscing about the wells he had drilled.
Upon retiring, Wayne joined Norma as co-custodian of Faith Lutheran Church where they were also members. The entire community will always remember Wayne for his 28 years of mowing the lawn at Faith. This job provided him with pride and purpose.
Following the tragic death of his daughter, Jeanne & her husband, Kenny Larssen, Wayne & Norma accepted the responsibility to love and raise Jeanne & Kenny’s daughters, Kimberly Jo and Kelly Sue, a task they were honored to accept.
Not one to sit idle upon retirement, Wayne also enjoyed driving the school bus for the North Scott School District for nearly 25 years.
Through the years, Wayne enjoyed bowling with the Eldridge Merchants, serving on the church council and was an avid supporter of community events. Wayne had a special gift of encouraging others to be the best that they could be, get as much education as possible and to make today better than yesterday. He especially enjoyed teaching life’s lessons, certainly to his daughters and grandchildren. He would frequently muse about all of the young men that worked for Ernst Well Drilling and that he mentored along the way. Wayne enjoyed a very special relationship with his daughter, Marijo and of his grandchildren and will be missed by all that knew him.
Those left to honor his memory include his daughter & son-in-law, Marijo & Paul Anderson of Solon, Iowa who loved and cared for his daily needs with blessed joy; his grandchildren, Kimberly Jo (Steven) Schmidt of Mason City, Iowa, Kelly (Andrew) Tank of Ankeny, Iowa, Troy (Kelli) Golinghorst of Dublin, Ohio, Brandon Anderson, Kirsten Anderson and Katelyn Anderson, all of Solon; his great-grandchildren, Corey Schmidt and Abbie Tank; his sisters, Shirley Matt of Cresco and Jeanette (Norman) Anderson of Waterloo, Iowa; and his brothers, Hubert (Marge) Ernst of Jesup, Iowa, Wallace (Darlene) Ernst of New Hampton, Iowa and Donald (Elaine) Ernst of Waterloo.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Norma on April 12, 1994; his brothers & sisters-in-law, Arnold & Leone Ernst and Ervin & Margaret Ernst; and his precious great-granddaughter, Makenzie Jo Tank.