He was married to Gertrude at the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Bietigheim by Pastor Eugene Summer. At age 18, Ernst first met Trudy when she asked him if she could walk with him to a neighboring town with some other teens. Afterwards, they took a train to another town where they went to the cinema… and so it began. On February 16, 1950 Ernst and Trudy got married. Their honeymoon was a trip to America to begin a new life, leaving a war-torn country behind. They settled in Newark, New Jersey having found work and friends. Their first child – Doris – was born two years later, followed by Kenny in 1953 and Steven in 1957. Ernst and Trudy bought a house in Clifton, NJ where they raised their children.
Ernst was a loving father and supported the family as a Master Sheet Metal Craftsman. He frequently brought home hand-made cookie sheets, pans, various sizes and shapes of trays and vessels, dust pans, and tool boxes. Ernst also loved gardening. He turned most of his back yard into a large vegetable and flower garden. He meticulously planted straight rows of vegetables, walking paths, and not a weed in sight.
Ernst was also an avid artist, and displayed his paintings at art shows. He especially loved teaching his granddaughter Taia how to draw and paint. He was a loving “Opa” who enjoyed all of his grandchildren – Kevin, Taia, Christina, Evan, and Lilyana, and his great-granddaughter Kayla.
Ernst and Trudy retired to New Port Richey Florida 33 years ago after their children were off on their own. Ernst became a vibrant part of the Greenbrook Estates community. He helped maintain the plantings around the front entrance of the community and the pool. He also volunteered as a community night-watch guard. He and Trudy were active parishioners at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Ernst’s passion for gardening, and his love of papaya fruit led him to discover that he could grow papaya trees in Florida. He soon became known as “The Papaya Man” in the neighborhood as he had grown papaya trees all around his house and around the community pool.
Ernst and Trudy enjoyed 64 years of a committed, loving marriage. They often travelled back to New Jersey and to Germany to stay close to family. Ernst made friends easily, was never pretentious, and always approachable. He was a gentleman and a gentle man. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
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