Darvin Eernisse

DARVIN LEE EERNISSE was born on May 27, 1943 to Joseph and Jennie (Evink) Eernisse on a farm north of Leota, Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to a farm one mile west of Leota where Darvin spent his childhood. He attended Edgerton Public School, graduating with the class of 1962. Following his education, he worked for various farmers. He was drafted into the military and inducted on February 26, 1967. He married Genevieve Vos on July 21, 1967 at the Bethel Reformed Church in Leota. During his service he was stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Bliss, Texas, and spent over 14 months in Korea during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged on October 6, 1968 in Fort Lewis, Washington. He returned home to his wife and the couple moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa where Darvin worked for Jansma Cattle Company. In 1970, they moved to Hardwick, Minnesota where he was employed with Reverts Farms. In 1972, Darvin began working for the Luverne Dehydration Plant. At this time, the couple made their home in Luverne, Minnesota where they raised their family. Darvin continued work at the plant until taking a job at the Luverne Farmer’s Elevator in 1983. In 1995, Darvin had a severe heart attack which laid him off of work from May until January. He was eager to return to work again and continued his job at the elevator until his retirement on January 1, 2008. Following formal retirement, he enjoyed part-time work at the Blue Mounds State Park for a few years. On February 10, 2015, Darvin died at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 71 years, 8 months and 3 days.

Darvin was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne where he served as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School treasurer, deacon and sang in the choir for many years. He was a member of the Rock County VFW Post 2757. He loved music, working jig saw puzzles, and watching the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Twins. Darvin was always joking around and known to pull quite a few pranks. He was a man that often had a smile on his face. That smile was the biggest when watching the sporting activities of his children and grandchildren. He lived his life with a healthy dose of humor, an appreciation for others, a great love for his family, and content and satisfied with the choices he made and the life he lived.

Darvin is remembered by his wife, Genevieve of Luverne; children, Todd (Monica) Eernisse of Richland Center, Wisconsin, Terry Eernisse of Luverne, and Travis (Lisa) Eernisse of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; his grandchildren, Christian and Kaitlyn Eernisse and Morgan Scharnhorst; sister-in-law, Nina Mae Eernisse of Luverne; and brother-in-law, Marvin (Nancy) Vos of Sioux Falls. He was preceded in death by his son, Troy Eernisse; his parents; and a brother, Alvin Eernisse.