Ernie is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen M. (Barga) Hemmelgarn whom he married February 1, 1947; daughters & sons-in-law, Mary Ann & John F. Simon of Bradford, Ohio and Rita Marie & Gregg Henschen of Findlay, Ohio; 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; brother & sister-in-law, Gerald & Norma Hemmelgarn of Versailles, Ohio; sisters & brothers-in-law, Betty Lou & Julius Jutte of Ft. Recovery, Ohio and Ruth & Robert Bettinger of Apollo Beach, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Ernie is also preceded in death by his sisters, Marceil Meyer, Jean Ann Hemmelgarn and Bernice Frilling.
Ernie served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was very proud that he served his Country. Ernie retired in 1984 from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, where he was Assistant State Supervisor with 35 years of service. Ernie formerly worked at Poultry Producers and Weaver Brothers in Versailles. Ernie was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church in Versailles; Versailles Knights of Columbus where he was Past Grand Knight; Versailles V.F.W. and the Versailles Eagles.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, January 20, 2014 at St. Denis Catholic Church in Versailles with Rev. Fr. Jim Simons celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Valbert Cemetery in Versailles with full Military Honors conducted by the Versailles Veteran’s Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. and Monday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. at Bailey Zechar Funeral Home in Versailles. A prayer service will be conducted by the Versailles Knights of Columbus on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made as Masses. Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com
