Obituary for Thomas "Tom" William Ernst
Thomas "Tom" William Ernst, 66 of Cookeville, Tennessee passed from this life on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at his home surrounded by his family.
Tom was born Monday, August 8, 1955, in Iowa City, Iowa, and he was the son of the late James Eugene Ernst and the late Helen Adaline (Thomas) Ernst.
Tom was a loving son, goofy brother, devoted husband, wonderful father, and fun-loving grandpa. He grew up at a family-owned resort in Spicer, Minnesota. He graduated high school at Wilmer Senior High in 1973, from the University of Minnesota in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and with a masters of science degree from Michigan Technological University in 2008. He started his career at Northern States Power in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Continued at Minnesota Power in Duluth, Minnesota, retired in 2016, and retired again from General Electric in 2020. Up until his death, he was a consultant with General Electric. Along the way, he was very involved in teaching and mentoring young engineers. He was a lifetime member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In 2011, he won the Power and Engineering Society Engineer of the Year award. He was a mentor with the Tennessee Promise Program and was a Putnam County Master Gardener. He was an active member of the Collegeside Church of Christ and had a strong bond with his core group and shooting buddies. Tom was an avid outdoorsman, loved to camp, fish, and spend time at their summer home in Gordon, Wisconsin. He had a loving companion his dog, Sweet T. Tom was loved by all that knew him, he was a generous, kind, and humorous man, and he will be greatly missed.
Tom is survived by, Wife of 21 years, Seena Karolyn (Kay) Ernst; 5 Children, Garrett Ernst, Allison Rosso (Justin), Jim Alexson, Lori Stratford (Wayne), and Angela Meador (Jacob); 8 Grandchildren, Hunter Rosso, Jett, and Olivia Stratford, Spencer Hoyt, Lawson Alexson - Walls, Hank, Katie, and Jonah Meador; 2 Great-Grandchildren, Ryder, and Rhett; Brother, Edward James Ernst (Becky); Sister, Kathryn Jo Paulson (Tim); Brothers-In-Law, Jesse James (Gloria) and Scott James (Pat); A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends.
In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by, Mother-In-Law, Seena Pierce.
Celebration of Life for Tom Ernst will be held Saturday, May 7, 2022, at 12:00 pm at Collegeside Church of Christ with Bro. John Nichols officiating.
Visitation with the family will be held Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Collegeside Church of Christ.
Special thanks to the Upper Cumberland Hospice Team and Tom and Kay's core group from Collegeside Church of Christ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Happy Haven Children's Home https://www.happyhaven.org/ or Rising Above Ministries https://www.risingaboveministries.org.
To sign the online guestbook and to send the family a message please visit www.crestlawnmemorial.com
Arrangements entrusted to Crest Lawn Funeral Home-Cremation Center.
Tom was born Monday, August 8, 1955, in Iowa City, Iowa, and he was the son of the late James Eugene Ernst and the late Helen Adaline (Thomas) Ernst.
Tom was a loving son, goofy brother, devoted husband, wonderful father, and fun-loving grandpa. He grew up at a family-owned resort in Spicer, Minnesota. He graduated high school at Wilmer Senior High in 1973, from the University of Minnesota in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and with a masters of science degree from Michigan Technological University in 2008. He started his career at Northern States Power in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Continued at Minnesota Power in Duluth, Minnesota, retired in 2016, and retired again from General Electric in 2020. Up until his death, he was a consultant with General Electric. Along the way, he was very involved in teaching and mentoring young engineers. He was a lifetime member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In 2011, he won the Power and Engineering Society Engineer of the Year award. He was a mentor with the Tennessee Promise Program and was a Putnam County Master Gardener. He was an active member of the Collegeside Church of Christ and had a strong bond with his core group and shooting buddies. Tom was an avid outdoorsman, loved to camp, fish, and spend time at their summer home in Gordon, Wisconsin. He had a loving companion his dog, Sweet T. Tom was loved by all that knew him, he was a generous, kind, and humorous man, and he will be greatly missed.
Tom is survived by, Wife of 21 years, Seena Karolyn (Kay) Ernst; 5 Children, Garrett Ernst, Allison Rosso (Justin), Jim Alexson, Lori Stratford (Wayne), and Angela Meador (Jacob); 8 Grandchildren, Hunter Rosso, Jett, and Olivia Stratford, Spencer Hoyt, Lawson Alexson - Walls, Hank, Katie, and Jonah Meador; 2 Great-Grandchildren, Ryder, and Rhett; Brother, Edward James Ernst (Becky); Sister, Kathryn Jo Paulson (Tim); Brothers-In-Law, Jesse James (Gloria) and Scott James (Pat); A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends.
In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by, Mother-In-Law, Seena Pierce.
Celebration of Life for Tom Ernst will be held Saturday, May 7, 2022, at 12:00 pm at Collegeside Church of Christ with Bro. John Nichols officiating.
Visitation with the family will be held Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Collegeside Church of Christ.
Special thanks to the Upper Cumberland Hospice Team and Tom and Kay's core group from Collegeside Church of Christ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Happy Haven Children's Home https://www.happyhaven.org/ or Rising Above Ministries https://www.risingaboveministries.org.
To sign the online guestbook and to send the family a message please visit www.crestlawnmemorial.com
Arrangements entrusted to Crest Lawn Funeral Home-Cremation Center.