Lawerence Henry Ernsberger, Sr., 83, of Coldwater passed
away Sunday, July 26, 2020 at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital. According
to his wishes, cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be
held at a later date. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Dutcher Funeral
Home in Coldwater.
Larry was born to Walter and Hazel (Lincoln) Ernsberger on
April 1, 1937 in Coldwater. He attended Coldwater schools and honorably served
his country in the Army National Guard.
On October 7, 1961 he married Joyce Smullen in Angola, IN, she preceded him in death in 2001. Lawerence
was a direct and hardworking man; he led a busy career that consisted of
excavating, heavy equipment operation, truck driving, owning a motorcycle shop,
and working for the state home. Although
Larry was always on the move, he certainly knew how to enjoy life too. He was a
member of the Coldwater Saints Motor Cycle Club and he enjoyed working on
almost anything with a motor, flying cable airplanes, and CB radios. Lawerence
also had a knack for speed; he raced motorcycles and competed in scrambles,
raced stock cars at Butler Motor Speedway, and also got behind the wheel of
speed boats if he wasn’t skiing behind them first. His racing reputation was
second only to his passion for music; he sang and played guitar which
eventually led to him performing on radio stations such as WTVB and WNWN and
even his own band Larry and the Pirates. He also enjoyed watching every John
Wayne movie ever made. He was a colorful man with a great sense of
humor that truly had a lifetime of accomplishments, but what he treasured most
was his family, especially his grandchildren. To them he is the world famous
husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many that will be
dearly missed.
He is survived by his children, Su (Charles) Diamond of
Bronson, Kandy Ernsberger, Jack (Laurie) Ernsberger both of Coldwater, Fred
(Tami Wendorf) Ernsberger of Bronson; his sister Betty Bates of Coldwater; 10
grandchildren Cassandra (Adam) Nageldinger, Yolanda (Taylor) Huerta, Carol
Lopez, Lori (Trevor) Hochstedler, Jason Ernsberger, Nicole (Brandon) Adamski,
Jeff (Rhonda Eicher) Ernsberger, Tawny (Aaron) Modert, Torey Ernsberger, Damen
Ernsberger; 9 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; many loving
nieces and nephews; and his special companion Grace Houtz of Coldwater.
In addition to his wife Joyce, Lawerence was preceded in
death by his parents, his son Lawrence “J.R.” Ernsberger Jr., and his brothers
Frederick and Donald Ernsberger.
Memorials may be directed to the American
Cancer Society.
