Lawrence John William Ernst

Larry Ernst, beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher, and musician, passed away on October 24, 2013 in San Marcos, Texas. He was 93 years of age. Lawrence John William Ernst was born October 22, 1920, in Niagara, Wisconsin. His father, Johann Simon Ernst (known as Seymour), was a German immigrant, and his mother, Rose Marie Berger Ernst, was the daughter of Swiss immigrants. Larry was the second of the couple’s three sons. Young Larry exhibited an early talent for music, taking after his father who played cornet and conducted the town band. His uncles on his mother’s side of the family were also musical, and at the age of five Larry joined them on the pump organ at family musical gatherings. When he was ten, Larry enrolled in a mail order correspondence course to study piano through Sherwood Music School in Chicago. Trumpet lessons were added in Junior High School. After graduating from Niagara High School in 1938, Larry was accepted into the Conservatory of Music at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. He managed to pay his own way through college, playing musical “gigs,” washing dishes at a local café, and working summers at Kimberly-Clark Paper Company. He graduated with a degree in music on May 24, 1942. In September, 1942, Larry was called to serve in the Armed Forces. Due to a stiff right arm resulting from a childhood accident, he was ineligible for combat duty. The Army chose instead to take advantage of Larry’s musical abilities, and he was ultimately assigned to the 344th Special Services Army Band stationed at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. The band entertained the troops, did radio broadcasts and recordings, and played at U.S.O. dances. They also were named the best army dance band in the United States during a national competition judged by several famous big band leaders. After being discharged from the Army, Larry got his first teaching job in Whitehall, Wisconsin, where he taught band and orchestra from 1945 to 1947. There he met Dora Partanen, who taught vocal music and physical education. They became good friends and quickly fell in love. Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, Larry enrolled in graduate school at Northwestern University, where he graduated with a Master of Music degree on June 16, 1948. Three days later, on June 19, 1948, he and Dora were married at her parents’ cabin on Lake Vermilion, Minnesota. The couple moved to St. Joseph, Michigan, where Larry began teaching music in 1949. Twenty-seven years later, he retired from St. Joseph Public Schools in 1976. Larry took great pride that his bands won first division ratings in competition during all but one of those 27 years. In 1952 he was joined by his good friend and army buddy Fred Erbach, who taught orchestra along side him for 25 years. Larry and Dora quickly started a family, which ultimately grew to five children. They were active in the Unitarian Fellowship, with Larry and Dora providing music for Sunday services. To supplement his teaching salary, Larry also performed in a number of musical groups, including his own combo, the Larry Ernst Trio. Tragedy struck on April 4, 1968, when Dora succumbed to cancer. Despite his grief, Larry managed to care for his five children on his own for three years. The loneliness came to an end on July 31, 1971, when Larry married Joan Mallen, a widow with three children. They consolidated families and started a new life together. There was never a dull moment with eight children living under one roof, and a revolving door of friends coming and going. With humor and love, Larry and Joannie somehow made things work. Tragedy struck again in 1983, when for the second time Larry lost a wife to cancer. With the children off on their own, the prospect of loneliness was overwhelming. But hope arrived in the form of Louise Whiteley, a friend from the Unitarian Fellowship who had become widowed. Larry and Louise were married on November 23, 1984. After a few years in Michigan, Larry and Louise retired to San Marcos in her home state of Texas. They continued an active interest in the lives of their children and grandchildren, became involved with the local Unitarian Fellowship, and enjoyed summers at Lake Vermilion. Larry also entered into a prolific period of musical recording. By 1998, he had recorded over 25 albums of popular, classical, and original piano pieces with more to come. In addition to the musical outlet, he enjoyed the social aspect of collaborating with fellow musicians in the studio. In addition to his musical talents, Larry was adept at home improvement. Over the years, he remodeled and added rooms to several homes in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, the Ernst cabin at Lake Vermilion, and the home in San Marcos, Texas. Who better to summarize a life than the person who lived it? In Larry’s own words, “In spite of many heartaches, I feel that life has been good to me and I have been blessed.” Larry is preceded in death by his first wife, Dora, his second wife, Joannie, and a brother, Harold Ernst. He is survived by his wife, Louise; brother Richard Ernst; children Heidi (Michael) Barron, John (Debra) Ernst, Holly Ernst, Dan (Nancy) Ernst, Wendy (Jason) Frost; and grandsons Ryan and Kevin Barron. He is also survived by stepchildren Norise (Marvin) Jastillana, Eric (Bette) Mallen, Cathy Mallen, Paul Mallen; and stepgrandchildren Marisa (Cody) Jarmon, Elliott Mallen, Evan Mallen, and Ashley Dase. A private memorial service will be held. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Joseph Band and Orchestra Parents Association (information at www.sjschools.org).