Ernest Williams
Ernest “Ernie” Williams, 68, of Marshfield, Wis. died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, at his home with his family by his side and under the tender care of Ministry in Home Hospice. He went home with the Lord to sing in heavens choir after fighting a three-year battle with cancer of the brain.
Mr. Williams was born July 24, 1940, in Knowlton, Wis., to Carl and Rose (Kujawsk
i) Williams. Ernie graduated from Edgar High School Edgar, Wis., and attended Taylor County Teachers College in Medford, Wis., for one year.
Ernie held various jobs but retired from Roehl Transport after more than 32 years. He held many positions at Roehl, first as driver then mechanic and retired as maintenance manager.
On Aug. 19, 1961, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in the town of Wein, Ernie was united in marriage to the former Bernadine Bernice Mueller.
Ernie enjoyed motorcycling, camping, traveling and spending time with his family.
He was member of Christ Lutheran Church where he was a former choir member and church council member, elder and usher. He served on the Advisory Board for the Wood County Tech School Diesel program and as secretary of the Marshfield Central Labor Council.
Ernie was a member of the District 16 of the American Motorcyclist Association and served as treasurer and National Road Congressman for many years. He also served as an American Motor Cycle Congress Road Riding Executive Board member for region three.
Mr. Williams was a member and past president, vice president and secretary of the Marshfield T & T Riders.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters: Loretta, Ethel, Esther and Isabella; four brothers: Marvin, Harvey, Clifford and Carl; brothers-in-law: Bob Schulfer, Clyde Babcock, Ambrose Sterzinger, Charles Hackbarth and Walter Hornik; sisters-in-law: Dorothy Williams and Kathy Williams; and two foster children, Bernice and Russell.
He is survived by his loving wife, Bernadine “Bernie” Williams, of Marshfield; two daughters, Wanda (Keith) Sumlar, of Chicago, and Wendy (Jason) Foth, of Spencer, Wis.,three grandsons, Keith (Janaisa) Sumlar, Forrest Sumlar and Justin Foth; two brothers, Myron (Beverly) Williams, of Marshfield, Jerry Williams, of Sarasota, Fla.; three sisters, Louise (Glenn) Pilgrim, of Pillager, Minn., Judy (Tom) Miller, of Edgar Wis. and Dawn (Francisco Jose Donjuan) Hernandez, of Maxwell, Texas; three sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews, including Donald (Marcia) Jones and daughter, Amanda, of Maxwell and Daniel (April) Jones and son, Anthony, of San Marcos. He is also survived by his mother- and father-in-law.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Marshfield. The Rev. Mark Krueger officiated. Burial followed in the McMillan Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers were Dennis Hornik, Gene Pilgrim, Mike Williams, Jeff Kloth, Tracy Gressert and Dick Rignhart.
Visitation was from 4 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 22, 2008, at the Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home and one hour prior to service time at the church on Thursday.
Arrangements under the care and direction of Hanson-Schilling Funeral Home, 200 W. Third St., Marshfield, Wis., 54449.
