Ernst, George Campbell 1905-1997

ERNST, FOX, HEMPSTEAD, SCHARENBERG, PORTER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/18/2010 at 07:54:04

The Grinnell Herald-Register; Dec. 4, 1997

GEORGE C. ERNST

George C. Ernst, 92, of the Mayflower died of congestive heart failure Sunday, Nov. 30, at the Mayflower Health Care Center.

A memorial service was conducted Thursday at the United Church of Christ-Congregational, with the Revs. Vicki Engelmann, Robert Carpenter and Jan Reimers officiating. Barbara Zacheis was the organist. The Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Ernst's body was deeded to the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Memorials may be made to the Mayflower Human Needs Fund or to the Grinnell United Church of Christ-Congregational.

He was the son of Daniel and Helen Fox Ernst and was born Oct. 15, 1905, in Des Moines. He was raised in Des Moines and was a graduate of West High School. He continued his education at Iowa State University, earned a B.S. degree in engineering from the University of Michigan, then earned a master's degree from Iowa State. He taught engineering mechanics and civil engineering courses at Iowa State, the University of Maryland, Syracuse University and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

He was married to Elizabeth "Betty" Hempstead Jan. 1, 1934, in Stuart.

During World War II, Mr. Ernst was in charge of the testing laboratory at the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis. He conducted many research projects on reinforced concrete, resulting in papers being published in The Journal of the American Concrete Institute. For 20 years in Lincoln, Neb., he checked all city building plans for safety and compliance with codes. He also designed a reinforced concrete bridge for Nebraska City, Neb.

The couple retired to Grinnell in 1974 and lived at the Mayflower.

Mr. Ernst was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, the Grinnell Area Housing Board, Kiwanis and the United Church of Christ-Congregational.

Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Maryjane Scharenberg of West Lafayette, Ind. and Jean Porter of Mission, Kan.; and one son, Stephen of Berkley, Mich. He was preceded in death by one brother, Daniel.