RICHARD C. ERNE

Richard C. "Dick" Erne, age 82, of Columbia City, IN passed away at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at his residence. Born on August 2, 1925 in Columbia City, he was the son of William Ray Erne and Vivian E. (Gee) Erne.Mr. Erne was reared in Columbia City and attended Columbia City High School, Columbia City, IN. He also attended Ivy Tech, Fort Wayne, IN for 2 years. Mr. Erne resided in Columbia City until 1943 when he moved to Indianapolis, he then returned to reside in Columbia City in 1969. On April 22, 1945, he married June M.(Ward) at Indianapolis, IN. He worked 30 years with Szabo Food Service as Food Service Director at several locations throughout Indiana. He then worked 13 years at Whitley County Memorial Hospital, Columbia City as Food Service Director, retiring in 1990. He worked part time for Passages, Inc., Carriage House Flowers and Whitley County Jail in the food service department. He attended First Church of God, and was a 30 year member of Columbia City Kiwanis Club, where he served as President numerous times and served as Past Lt. Governor of Land of Lakes Division of Kiwanis International. He also served as the supervisor for Whitley/Noble County Red Cross Disaster Services. He was a former staff member of Whitley County Emergency Management Agency and also was Charter President of Whiltey County Child Abuse Prevention Council and was a former board member. Mr. Erne was very instrumental in the creation of the Kid's Dreamland Playground and the revitalization of Morsches Park Pond, both in Columbia City. In 2001 Dick was voted "Citizen of the Year" by the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce. Survivors include his 3 sons, Robin E. (Irene S. Welch) Erne, Oxford, FL, Ted M. (Jeanette L.) Erne, Columbia City, IN and Patrick D. (Dee A.) Erne, Wolcottville, IN; 2 daughters, Cathy E. Erne of Columbia City, IN and Mary Jo (Ronda Hartup) Schaaf, North Webster, IN; 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; 2 step great grandchildren; 2 brothers, James (Jo) Erne, Jeffersonville, IN and Robert (Dale) Edington, Fort Wayne, IN and 2 sisters, Rene May Milborne, Eaton Rapids, MI and Ruth Ellen (Charles) Pugh, Monongahela, PA. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Ray Erne and Vivian E. (Gee) Erne, wife, June M. Erne, son, Timothy W. Erne and 1 sister, Dorothy Mettler. Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2008 from 2-7:00 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, Columbia City, IN. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2008 at the funeral home with Chaplain Larry Rice, Jr. of Parkview Home Health and Hospice officiating. Burial will follow at Greenhill Cemetery, East Ellsworth Street, Columbia City, IN. Memorial bequest may be given in Mr. Erne's memory to Northeast Indiana Chapter of American Red Cross, Kiwanis International Foundation or Columbia City Parks and Recreational Department. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. To send family condolences or sign the guest register book, please visit www.demoneygrimes.com .