Submitted by: Dan Rich
Robert Joseph Ernst
Jan. 20, 1936 – Jan 15, 2008
The Goshen News 1/17/2008
Robert Joseph Ernst, 71, 1726
Woodgate Drive, Goshen, died at 4 a.m. Tuesday at his home.
He was born Jan. 20, 1936, to Joseph Bernard and Theresa (Hums)
Ernst, in Mishawaka. He lived his entire life in St. Joseph
County and came to Goshen from South Bend in 2004. He was a 1954
graduate of St. Joseph High School. He earned his bachelor’s
degree in 1958 and his master’s degree in 1960 from the
University of Notre Dame. He studied planetariums at the
University of California Berkley. He was a ranger for the
National Park Service for nine years in Washington, D.C. prior to
his teaching career. A science teacher for 41 years with
Mishawaka Schools and St. Mary’s College for 21 years, he
was 1999 teacher of the year for Mishawaka City Schools.
Mr. Ernst ran the planetarium for the city for 21 years. In 1998,
he served as the keynote speaker for the Armand N. Spitz Memorial
Lecturer for the Great Lakes Planetarium Association.
Mr. Ernest was a 50-year member of St. Joseph Catholic Church,
Mishawaka and St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen,
and the Knights of Columbus, Goshen. On June 22, 1968, he married
Juanita, in Mishawaka. She died Feb. 2, 1999. He then married
LaVonne (Graber) Boughner, June 11, 2004, in Goshen. She
survives.Surviving are two daughters, Susanna Marie (Frank Suerth)
Ernst, Chicago, Ill, Rosemary (Jeffrey) Ernst Weghorst,
Newport, Ky.; two stepsons, Nathan Boughner, Goshen and
Zacary Boughner, Elkhart; granddaughter, Charlotte Rose Weghorst;
five sisters, Joan Larson, Mishawaka, Angela (George)
Bliha, Mishawaka, Dorothy (James) Gulde, Altamanta
Springs, Fla., Louise Collins, Granger, Helen Mauer,
Salt Lake City, Utah; brother, J. Anthony “Tony”
(Carol) Ernst, Granger. He was preceded in death by his parents;
his first wife, Juanita; and a sister, Mary G. Cortier.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Thallemer-Goethals-Wells Funeral Home, Mishawaka, where there will be a rosary service at 5:30 p.m. The funeral service will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mishawaka. Father Christopher Smith of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen, will conduct the service. Burial will be in Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637, or St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 109 W. Monroe St., Goshen, IN 46526. Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, is assisting with arrangements.