He is survived by his wife of 18 years Peggy Ernst, sister Linda Ernst Keffer and husband Tom, brother Tom Ernst and wife Diane, sister Joanne Ernst Fink and husband David, sister Patricia Ernst Griffen and husband Derrell, daughter Michelle Ostendorp and husband Mark, grandsons Jay and Jonathan Welch and great granddaughter Emma Welch, daughter Karen Obrien and granddaughters Marnette and Alayna Obrien, son Matthew Ernst and grandson Dillion Ernst. He was also extremely loved by many nieces and nephews and many step kids and step grandkids.
Michael was a graduate of Delone Catholic High School and enlisted in the United States Navy where he served as a radio man in the Philippines. For 40 years he was a radio and television engineer retiring from the U. S. State Department. He traveled to over 70 countries during his career and kept his love for traveling afterwards by going on as many cruises as he could. He had a great love and passion for the game of golf, he even worked part time at a course after retiring to Florida and played as much as he possibly could. He was a very loving generous man who was very proud to have served his country in the Navy. He was very proud and loved all of his family and friends just as much as we all loved him. He will be greatly missed by all of us and will forever be in our hearts.