Ernest Sundermeyer

ERNEST LEROY SUNDERMEYER was born to Julius and Emma (Lange) Sundermeyer on December 24, 1928 in Pipestone, Minnesota. When he was a young boy, his father became ill and the family decided to move to a farm between Ward, South Dakota and Cazenovia, Minnesota where he was raised and attended country school in District #68. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during the Occupation of Japan. After his discharge from the service in 1948, he moved to Alaska where he worked for Western Electric. After a year, he returned to Pipestone and began driving a grain truck. On February 7, 1959, he was united in marriage to Mary Kerkove in Winnebago, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they lived in Pipestone where Ernie operated Ernie's Texico Station. He later became employed at Pan-O-Gold Bakery in Pipestone. When the bakery closed, Ernie began working at the REA in Pipestone until his retirement in 1990. On October 2, 2013, he suffered a heart attack and was taken to Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Then, on October 10, 2013, he had a stroke and was transferred to Avera Hospital in Sioux Falls and then the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls where Ernie died on Friday, October 18, 2013, at the age of 84 years, nine months and 25 days.

Ernie was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone where he was baptized. While living near Ward, South Dakota, he was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where he was confirmed. He was also a member of the Michael Boock American Legion Post 6 and VFW Post 3814 in Pipestone. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting. Throughout his lifetime, he was an avid fisherman and coin collector. In his later years, he loved having his morning coffee with his friends. He especially enjoyed spending his time with his grandchildren.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary Sundermeyer of Pipestone, Minnesota; his daughter, Sally and her husband Todd Morgan of Pipestone, Minnesota; and his grandchildren, Laurel, Brock, Kirk, and Paige Morgan, all of Pipestone, Minnesota. He is preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Shelby; five brothers, Walter, William, Clarence, John and Lawrence Sundermeyer; and three sisters, Emma Sundermeyer, Laura Haper, and Geraldine Wakefield.