Daddy was open to God’s teaching and leading. He was teachable, and he would share wisdom with us as God lead him. One of my fondest memories of Daddy was shortly after Ann Marie and I were married. It was one of those beautiful afternoons in the Hill County. We sat in shade of the huge old oak tree by the water trough in the cow pen. There he confirmed to me the principle of tithing and stewardship as he recalled how God said in the Book of Malachi “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, (See) if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” Daddy said that when he trusted God with a tenth of his profit, he experienced the best sheep lamb crop that he had ever had. Because of his legacy, we continue the blessing of tithing today; we will teach it to our children and grandchildren because God is faithful to us. He provides for our every need.

Daddy loved music and loved to hear his children sing, regardless of their ability.

• Each Christmas before any presents were opened, we gathered together and read the story of the birth of our Savior, and then we sang as many Christmas carols as the our song sheets held.

• Each year at our annual family river gathering, he loved to listen to everyone sing hymns, patriotic songs, and praise songs as Tom played the guitar.

• Ernst could often be heard whistling, and He played the harmonica with a great deal of satisfaction and joy. Among his favorite pieces were “You are my Sunshine,” “Let me call you sweetheart,” and “Children of the Heavenly Father”. Just last week he was flawlessly played “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Shall we gather at the River” for our enjoyment.

• As a grandpa, Ernst loved and adored his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Kim and Vandi especially remember waiting at the gate for Grandpa so they could have their turn riding on the little Ford tractor. They liked it because Grandpa drove fast, but Uncle Johnny drove slow.

• Every time Brandon would eat one of grandma’s family famous dill pickles, Grandpa would ask him, “You don’t like pickles do you?” “No they are horrible” Brandon would reply sarcastically. Grandpa would laugh and remind Brandon of when Brandon was a little kid and Grandpa was working the concession stand at the high school football game in Johnson City. Brandon came up asking “Can I have a pickle?” Grandpa would laugh, “You sure loved those pickles!”

• Ernst had a sense of humor which always tickled his grandchildren. One day when we were de-beaking little turkeys, he told the grandchildren, “Tonight we will have beak soup.”

• On the phone Daddy’s last words to my children, Alyssa, Nathan and Aaron were “Good night, Sleep Tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite”

• Each of them is his pride and joy. In recent years, he spent his afternoons adoring photographs of them, and he constantly reminded Mathilde how beautiful and handsome they were. He made sure that they new that they were each valuable and important.

• Michelle, his grand-daughter, who is not here today because she is doing mission work in Honduras, remembered Grandpa this way…I remember picking peaches with him in his many orchards. Starting out, when Melanie and I were really young, we got paid by the box, not by the hour. Grandpa and my mom still had a time trying to get us moving. Grandpa patiently showed me which kind of peach was ripe, which one wasn’t, and which ones I could throw over the fence (or at my sister and brothers). Sometimes he would take us on the tractor with him, and he would fuss about us girls if we went on it with my your reckless brothers driving. When playing 42, I preferred to be on his team as opposed to my brothers or Johnny’s because he was much more forgiving when I didn’t play the right domino. He was a hard worker, a quiet happy man, played the harmonica for us, and led the family in prayer. I love him and am grateful for him.

Daddy was self-sacrificing, and he rarely complained. He supported all of his children and loved his son-in-laws and daughters-in-law as his own.

• When discussing family values, he shared with Jody that he could not imagine her not being his daughter-in-law.

• At age 69, he could pick a row of tomatoes, 100 yards long, faster than his teenage grandsons could. He continued to harvest and manage my tomato patch in the fall while I went back to college, assuring me of the time and resources to finish my education.

• He fed many a hog for Johnny during the weekdays, while Johnny was off at college.

• Today his legacy of sacrifice continues to live through his children, especially Paul, Judy, Joan, and Johnny.

Daddy was rarely heavy handed with his children. In fact, Jimmy Rowe shared with me yesterday that he couldn’t remember a time when Dad was angry. In fact, if you examine the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self control, all of these were exemplified by my father.

Yes, on occasion he did get frustrated when Brian and Bradley started throwing peaches at each other in the orchard.

But, in his last couple of years and even his waning days, Daddy’s love, hope, and peace was so evident. There are countless memories that he gave us.

• • In July, when daddy was in the hospital, I remember the nurse coming in his room to give him medication, and something that he really didn’t care for (medication) a whole lot, but he complimented her saying, “That’s a beautiful blouse you have on, where did you get that?”

  • Several weeks ago Mom said to him, “I love you and Jesus loves you too!” Daddy responded, “That’s the way it’s supposed to be!”

  • He often reminded her with his words that he loved her, and she was beautiful. In the past week, he asked my mom, “Can you sing the song?” Mom said “Let me call you sweetheart?” and Daddy sang back, “I’m in love with you.”

Recently, his daughter-in-law, Jody and Mom were standing in the doorway of the cottage, as we call it. Paul was standing there beside Daddy’s bed, and Daddy asked him, “Who is that in there?” “That’s Jody my wife.” “Oh, you have a beautiful wife!” So Paul replied, “And that’s your wife beside her!” “Yeah, and she’s beautiful, too!” Daddy exclaimed.

Even in the end his faith remained strong as mom felt compelled to talk about the future and his health. She asked Daddy, “Have you thought about the possibility that you might not recover from this?” He simply responded, “Jesus is my Savior.”

I could tell you more... How he served in WW II and received a purple heart, how he would take the peaches that he didn’t sell and give them to the VA hospital in Kerrville for the men in the hospital there.