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Ernie's Obituary
Ernest Glenesk
Ernie died in his home in Santa Maria, California with his family at his side on April 18, 2015, at the age of 93.
Those who knew Ernie over the past three decades will know of his boundless energy and enthusiasm for volunteering and serving the Central Coast Region. Ernie retired from his profession in 1981, settling in Santa Maria with his wife, Hilda. They were soon docents for the Nature Conservancy and Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, where Ernie routinely provided scheduled visitor talks, and spent countless days as a guide for the grove's visitors. For this, and additional volunteer work, Ernie earned honors from the the SLO Coast District State Parks, Santa Maria YMCA, Friends of Waller Park Board, and other regional organizations.
As for Ernie's history: He was born in 1921, in Vancouver, Canada, the first of three children born to Ernest and Christina. His father, an executive director for the YMCA, moved the family to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1926, then on to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1935. By 1942, Ernie had earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Manitoba. Shortly after, he entered WWII as a munitions expert in the Canadian Navy, serving in both Canada and England. Following the war, Ernie returned to his university for a bachelors degree in architecture, and married the love of his life, Hilda. This past year Hilda and Ernie celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
The YMCA was a huge part of Ernie’s life from childhood through his retirement years. In 1950, Ernie and Hilda moved to New York where Ernie joined the YMCA Building and Furnishing Service. Over the next three decades, Ernie designed over 200 YMCA buildings or major renovations throughout the USA and Canada. His attractive YMCAs are testimony to his artistic sense and talent, now part of a legacy that continues to be enjoyed by thousands of families each day.
Ernie's enthusiasm for life was a hallmark of his character. In the mid-1950’s, he pioneered one of the first SCUBA clubs in America, the Atlantis Divers, making his first SCUBA tank out of a re-purposed fire extinguisher! Long before the Nation’s fitness craze, Ernie was swimmer, diver, gymnast, hiker, explorer, sailplane pilot, and marathon runner. At age 80, he was national age-group champion in the 100 yard freestyle at US Masters Swimming Championships. Ernie was also a remarkably talented artist, and a lifelong learner who keenly studied history, geography, and nature. With retirement, Ernie and Hilda explored. They enjoyed trekking in New Zealand and adventurous travels within Europe and Central America. They canoed the 125-mile length of the Rideau Canal Waterway, and made scores of canoe trips within the US-Canadian Boundary Waters. They traveled to the most remarkable portions within each of our Nation's 50 States, the ten Canadian provinces, as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Most important and ever-present was Ernie's love for his family. Hilda and he raised four sons, Alan, Neil, Mark, and Dean. (He liked to say their initials spelled DAMN). His passion for adventure took his family on camping trips to National Parks across this continent. And, in 1965, his family was honored as their YMCA’s “Family of the Year”. Most of all, Ernie loved the family cottage in Lake of the Woods, Canada. Initially, a tiny A-Frame, the cottage was expanded to host a growing family. Without electricity, the remote island cottage is where generations of family gathered for a myriad of water sports, crafts, adventures, and evenings of song and games. He named the cottage the “Wildernest”, but later realized that also said Wild Ernest!
For all that he was and how he lived, Ernie will be lovingly remembered. He is survived by his Wife: Hilda; Brother: Syd; Sons & Daughters-in-Law : Alan & Ronni, Neil & Patricia, Mark & Jennifer, Dean & Agneta; Grandchildren: Alex (m/Bryan), Matthew (m/Barbara), Andrew, Kim (m/Bill), Katie (m/Dave), Alison, Bonnie, Niklas, Mattias, and Mina; Great-Grandchildren: Addie and Kyle. Ernie is preceded in death by his sister Margaret.
When you see a monarch butterfly, think of Ernie. Enjoy life and carry on with your journey and adventures
Ernie died in his home in Santa Maria, California with his family at his side on April 18, 2015, at the age of 93.
Those who knew Ernie over the past three decades will know of his boundless energy and enthusiasm for volunteering and serving the Central Coast Region. Ernie retired from his profession in 1981, settling in Santa Maria with his wife, Hilda. They were soon docents for the Nature Conservancy and Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, where Ernie routinely provided scheduled visitor talks, and spent countless days as a guide for the grove's visitors. For this, and additional volunteer work, Ernie earned honors from the the SLO Coast District State Parks, Santa Maria YMCA, Friends of Waller Park Board, and other regional organizations.
As for Ernie's history: He was born in 1921, in Vancouver, Canada, the first of three children born to Ernest and Christina. His father, an executive director for the YMCA, moved the family to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1926, then on to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1935. By 1942, Ernie had earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Manitoba. Shortly after, he entered WWII as a munitions expert in the Canadian Navy, serving in both Canada and England. Following the war, Ernie returned to his university for a bachelors degree in architecture, and married the love of his life, Hilda. This past year Hilda and Ernie celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
The YMCA was a huge part of Ernie’s life from childhood through his retirement years. In 1950, Ernie and Hilda moved to New York where Ernie joined the YMCA Building and Furnishing Service. Over the next three decades, Ernie designed over 200 YMCA buildings or major renovations throughout the USA and Canada. His attractive YMCAs are testimony to his artistic sense and talent, now part of a legacy that continues to be enjoyed by thousands of families each day.
Ernie's enthusiasm for life was a hallmark of his character. In the mid-1950’s, he pioneered one of the first SCUBA clubs in America, the Atlantis Divers, making his first SCUBA tank out of a re-purposed fire extinguisher! Long before the Nation’s fitness craze, Ernie was swimmer, diver, gymnast, hiker, explorer, sailplane pilot, and marathon runner. At age 80, he was national age-group champion in the 100 yard freestyle at US Masters Swimming Championships. Ernie was also a remarkably talented artist, and a lifelong learner who keenly studied history, geography, and nature. With retirement, Ernie and Hilda explored. They enjoyed trekking in New Zealand and adventurous travels within Europe and Central America. They canoed the 125-mile length of the Rideau Canal Waterway, and made scores of canoe trips within the US-Canadian Boundary Waters. They traveled to the most remarkable portions within each of our Nation's 50 States, the ten Canadian provinces, as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Most important and ever-present was Ernie's love for his family. Hilda and he raised four sons, Alan, Neil, Mark, and Dean. (He liked to say their initials spelled DAMN). His passion for adventure took his family on camping trips to National Parks across this continent. And, in 1965, his family was honored as their YMCA’s “Family of the Year”. Most of all, Ernie loved the family cottage in Lake of the Woods, Canada. Initially, a tiny A-Frame, the cottage was expanded to host a growing family. Without electricity, the remote island cottage is where generations of family gathered for a myriad of water sports, crafts, adventures, and evenings of song and games. He named the cottage the “Wildernest”, but later realized that also said Wild Ernest!
For all that he was and how he lived, Ernie will be lovingly remembered. He is survived by his Wife: Hilda; Brother: Syd; Sons & Daughters-in-Law : Alan & Ronni, Neil & Patricia, Mark & Jennifer, Dean & Agneta; Grandchildren: Alex (m/Bryan), Matthew (m/Barbara), Andrew, Kim (m/Bill), Katie (m/Dave), Alison, Bonnie, Niklas, Mattias, and Mina; Great-Grandchildren: Addie and Kyle. Ernie is preceded in death by his sister Margaret.
When you see a monarch butterfly, think of Ernie. Enjoy life and carry on with your journey and adventures