Ernest Hermsen

Ernest John Hermsen of the Iowa Veterans Home, formerly of Carroll and Eldora, died Sunday January 2, 2011, at the Iowa Veterans Home.A Funeral Mass will be held at the Iowa Veterans Home Chapel on Thursday, at 10:00 a.m. January 6, 2011. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 5, 2011 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. with a 6:30 rosary, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. He will be laid to rest in the Carroll Cemetery, Carroll, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the Family. For condolences please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234.Ernest John Hermsen was born to John and Anna (Hoffman) Hermsen on June 17, 1917 in Carroll, Iowa. He was educated in the area of his birth. Ernest served our country honorably in the Army Air Corp from 1941 to 1945. On May 19, 1941 Ernest married Alma Hannasch in Carroll, Iowa, they had lived in Maple River, Carroll, Eldora and he had resided in the Iowa Veterans Home for the last 9 years. Ernest was elected to the Carroll County Recorders office for 14 years and then he and Alma worked at the Iowa State Training School for boys for 20 years retiring in 1982. He had been a former member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. First and foremost Ernest loved and enjoyed his children, grandchildren and his great-grandchildren, he also enjoyed card playing, making wine, camping and just the general outdoors. He always enjoyed sitting on his porch also feeding and watching the birds. Ernest will be remembered for his very positive attitude and that he was fun loving, his big hearted guy who never met a stranger. While working at the State boys school Ernest always said, there are no bad boys, just bad decisions."Left to mourn his loss are his children: Frank (Cleone) Hermsen of Carroll, Iowa, Bettie (Steve) Bolar of Marshalltown, and Donita (Kristi Lynch) Hermsen of Coralville, Iowa, his grandchildren; Lisa Hermsen, Trichia Windschitl, Mary Ridgeway, Zach and Luke Bolar and great-grandchildren Calvin and Elke Windschitl, Tiana Bolar and Kyle Ridgeway.In death Ernest rejoins: his parents, his wife, Anna, three sisters - Florence Loew, Rosemary Skow and Joan Hermsen, his five brothers - Reverend Herbert Hermsen, Harold Hermsen, Cletes Hermsen, Norbert Hermsen and Joe Hermsen.