March 29, 2024

Ernest Eugene Lemmert

May 1, 2021

Ernest Eugene Lemmert, 70, of Prairie City, passed away Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Every Step Hospice in Des Moines. A funeral service was Thursday, May 6 at the First Reformed Church in Prairie City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Reformed Church, Teen Challenge, Central Iowa Cursillo or Gideon’s. Condolences may be left for the family at coburnfuneralhomes.com.

The son of Gordon and Desdamona (Maffini) Lemmert, Ernie was born May 5, 1950, in Ogallala, Neb. He grew up in North Platte, Neb., and graduated from St. Patrick High School in 1968. He attended Radio Engineering Institute in Omaha, Neb., and eventually moved to Des Moines. On May 26, 1979, he was united in marriage to Mary Lou Stech at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. They purchased a home in Prairie City and raised two sons, Cory and Joe. He loved his family and supported his sons in everything they did. He particularly enjoyed seeing Cory play bass guitar in various bands and participating in Civil War re-enactments with Joe. Ernie and Mary enjoyed square dancing, going to the Civic Center musicals, flea markets, antique stores and the Iowa State Fair. Ernie has worked at Koch Brothers in Des Moines for 46 years. He was a member of the First Reformed Church, where he was active as an Elder and Sunday school teacher. He was also active in the Lions Club, Gideon’s and Prison Ministries. Ernie had a passion for witnessing and sharing his faith with anyone he would meet. A weekend retreat called Cursillo changed his life and he has faithfully returned each year to work weekends so others may know God’s grace. When the weekends began at Teen Challenge, he developed a heart for the students in that program. He often encouraged young inmates he met during prison ministries to go to Teen Challenge because he knew it was a program that changes lives. Ernie was always willing to help anyone who needed help and was a humble man who will be missed by many.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Mary; two sons, Cory (Lacey) Lemmert and Joe (Sarah) Lemmert; four grandchildren, Kylie, Peyton, Kendall and Lena; a sister, Louise (Hugh) Clatterbuck; and a nephew, Mark (Sharon) Clatterbuck. Preceding Ernie in death were his parents.