Robert J. Ernst

Robert J. Ernst, 71, of Goshen, died early Tuesday morning, January 15, 2008, at his home. He was born January 20, 1936, in Mishawaka, Indiana, to Joseph Bernard and Theresa (Hums) Ernst.  He married Juanita on June 22, 1968 in Mishawaka.  She died February 2, 1999.  He then married LaVonne (Graber) Boughner on June 11, 2004, in Goshen.  She survives. A resident of St. Joseph County until 2004, Mr. Ernst graduate from St. Joseph High School in 1954; University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s degree in 1958 and a Master’s degree in 1960.  He studied at the University of California, Berkley for his planetarium.  He was a science teacher for 41 years with the Mishawaka Schools and at St. Mary’s College for 21 years, retiring in 2000.  He ran the planetarium for the city of Mishawaka for 21 years.  In 198 he was the Key Note Speaker for the Armand N. Spitz Memorial Lecturer for the Great Lakes Planetarium Association.  In 1999 he was named Teacher of the Year for Mishawaka City Schools.  Prior to teaching, Mr. Ernst worked as a ranger for the National Park Service in Washington D.C. for nine years. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka; St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Goshen; and Knights of Columbus in Goshen. He is survived by his wife, LaVonne; two daughters, Susanna Marie (Frank Suerth) Ernst of Chicago, Illinois, and Rosemary (Jeffrey) Ernst Weghorst of Newport, Kentucky; two step-sons, Nathan Boughner of Goshen, and Zacary Boughner of Elkhart; a granddaughter, Charlotte Rose Weghorst; five sisters, Joan Larson and  Angela (George) Bliha, both of Mishawaka, Dorothy (James) Gulde of Altamanta Spring, Florida, Louise Collins of Granger, and Helen Mauer of Salt Lake City, Utah; and a brother, J. Anthony “Tony” (Carol) Ernst of Granger. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Juanita; and a sister, Mary G. Cortier. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, January 17, at Thallemer-Goethals-Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. Third St., Mishawaka.  A 5:30 p.m. rosary service will be conducted at the funeral home. A 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 18, 2008, funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka.  Father Christopher Smith of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen, will officiate. Burial will be in Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen, or Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, South Bend.