HENNING, Earnest Sr. 1916-2005

HENNING

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 11/25/2005 at 10:00:55

Ernest Henning Sr., 89, of Fertile died Monday (Nov. 21, 2005) at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Pilot Knob Lutheran Church in rural Forest City with Pastor Robert Snitzer officiating. Burial will be at Pilot Knob Lutheran Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark St. in Forest City, and an hour prior to service at the church.

Ernest Henning Sr. was born in Lakota on Oct. 11, 1916, the son of Julius and Lena (Huisinga) Henning. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended school at Lakota Public Schools. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945, fighting in the European Theater. During this time he also became a Golden Gloves champion.

On Dec. 21, 1949, he was united in marriage to Shirley Wentworth. From this blessed union, six children were born. Ernest and Shirley farmed around Kiester, Minn., and in rural Fertile for many years. Ernest was also employed at Winnebago industries from 1958 until 1978. Through Winnebago, Ernest started a lawn mowing business which became very successful, and his children dubbed him the "Mow King."

Ernest loved spending time with his family- he was a wonderful father and grandfather. He enjoyed working outside and spending time with nature and the animals and he especially enjoyed driving his John Deere Gator.

He was a member of Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, the VFW and the Forest City American Legion Post 121.

Left to cherish his memory are: his wife Shirley of Fertile; Gary (Linda) Henning of Stevensville, Mont.; Ernie (Tina) Henning Jr. of Forest City; Marion (Gary) Prevot of Lakewood, Wash.; Robert Henning of Forest City; Herman (Marlene) Henning of Leland; Doug (Ruth) Henning of Fertile; Sherry (Greg) Flugum of Forest City. Also surviving are sisters, Pearl Waites of Washington, Mich., and Lene Wallace of Wadena, Minn.; twin brother, Ervin Henning of Lake Mills; 13 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; five sisters: Julia Kreitlow, Emma Spitz, Lucy Bravick, Gertie Wepel and Annie Gibbs; and two brothers, Earl and Jule Henning.

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, Nov. 21, 2005