Howard "Bill" Ernst

Howard “Bill” Ernst, 78, of Marshalltown passed away on October 25, 2019 surrounded by his loving wife and family at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown. The celebration of Life for Bill will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home beginning at 3:00 P.M. The visitation for family and friends will be held for the hour before the start of services at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made in Bill’s name to Iowa River Hospice. For more information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bill and his family. Howard William Ernst was born on August 12, 1941 to parents Arthur Joseph and Opal Zola (Arnold) Ernst in State Center, Iowa. He grew up attending school in Van Cleve and graduated with his high school diploma in 1959. Upon graduation from high school he worked hard in a variety of jobs while also attending UNI. He started with the Marshalltown Fire Department in 1966 and worked there for 24 years until his retirement in 1990. He came up through the ranks, was promoted to lieutenant and then to Captain through the remainder of his time with the Fire Department.  He was founder and business owner of Bill’s Sod Farm, Bill’s Backhoe service, River’s Edge Event Center and Bill Ernst Black Dirt. He operated some of the businesses during his off days from his work as a fire fighter. Bill was a very hard-working man with a huge heart and willingness to help anyone in need. He recently donated the 33 + acres of River’s Edge Event Center/ Black Dirt business to Pheasants Forever through the Marshall County Conservation Commission. This will be the future home for the Bill Ernst Training Facility and will feature hunting dog water training, youth and archery training towers, and a no sky shooting range. On December 23, 1989 Bill and his wife Heidi (Adelheid Christine Wirz) were united in marriage in Marshalltown, Iowa. The couple shared an amazing life together and took numerous trips to places such as Germany and Switzerland, Alaska, Colorado, Southwest US states, Montana, Idaho, Washington DC and Florida. In his free time Bill was an avid hunter and remained a member of the NRA for many years. When he was not working, he would cherish the outdoors and his antique tractors, mainly Olivers. He spent many years out west, hunting elk and in Iowa he enjoyed hunting deer and pheasant. He hunted with his dogs, a German Shorthaired Pointer, named Ben and his two German Wirehaired Pointers named Woolly and Shooter. After having suffered a debilitating stroke and several strokes thereafter as well as battling cancer, Bill applied his strong work ethic to his rehabilitation at On With Life where he was able to regain much of his independence. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife Heidi; his dearest children Lori Lynn (Robyn) Linthicum, Cathy Jo (Terry Gifford) Rethmeier, and John Patrick Ernst; his six grandchildren Dustin Shaver, Dalton Ernst, Candice (Jamie) Moran, Casey (Adam) Rethmeier, Shea (Jason) Hill, Josie (Devin) Stalzer; the mother of his children and wife of 12 years, Jan Gallentine-Breja and her daughter Jenni Breja, his great grandchildren Gracetyn, Carter Lee, Casey Jo, Ellena, Harlow, Avery Jo, and Ayden; his sibling Ruth (Richard) Christianson and Sisters-in-Law Dorothy Long-Ernst and Barbara (Michael) Ellsworth. In death, Bill joins his parents Arthur and Opal Ernst and his two brothers Robert Ernst and Gerald Ernst.