Ernst was born in West Prussia in 1927. After WWII, he moved to Canada to seek a better life for himself, in 1954. He settled in Westlock, Alberta, but went to an Auto Mechanics school in Calgary. After a visit back to his family in Germany, he married Ingrid, who was already a family friend, in 1962. They lived in Westlock and had a son, Christian, in 1964.
The family moved to Burnaby, BC, in 1966, where Ernie got a job with Greyhound. Their daughter Gisela was born in 1967. Ernie started working as a mechanic for Dairyland shortly thereafter, and worked there until his retirement in 1992.
In 2008, Ernie and Ingrid moved to a small rancher in Port Coquitlam. It was too small, but the price was right. Ernie took it upon himself to build an addition to his new house, and did most of the work himself, and he was in his 80’s!
Although his health and mobility was failing, Ernie continued to be a strong presence in family gatherings, and often accompanied his wife back to Germany to visit with his siblings and in-laws.
He leaves behind his sister Maria who still lives in Germany, his wife of 57 years Ingrid, his children Christian (married to Melanie) and Gisela (married to Eckhard), and his three grandchildren Caitlin Schafmeister, Lukas Perk, and Emily Perk.
He will be very much missed!