Ernest "Ernie" Lundtvedt

Ernest Lundtvedt, age 81, of Decorah, IA, died on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at Wellington Place Nursing Home, in Decorah, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 31, 2016, at the Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago Street, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Dave Sorenson presiding. Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, IA, in the spring. Friends may call from 3:00-6:00 p.m., Friday, December 30, 2016, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Saturday morning. Ernest Walter Lundtvedt was born on August 22, 1935, the son of Gunder and Olga (Skaim) Lundtvedt on the family farm, near Waukon, IA. Ernie attended Rocksvold country school in Glenwood township from kindergarten through 7th grade. He attended Mabel High School for his freshman and sophomore year and then Decorah High School for his last two years where he graduated in 1954. He served in the US Army on active duty from September 23, 1954 to September 8, 1956. He trained in Arkansas and then was stationed in Berlin, Germany. Ernie met his future wife at a dance in LaCrosse, WI. Ernie was united in marriage to Lillian Olson at Lewis Valley Lutheran Church on July 8, 1961 in Stevenstown, WI. He returned after the service and worked for Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids for one year. He then began as a printer and ran a printing press at Anundsen’s Publishing in Decorah for 47 ½ years, retiring in 2005. Ernie also worked for the Midland Gas Station, painted homes with his brother Gilman and delivered the Des Moines Sunday Register with his nephew Donnie Lundtvedt. Ernie was well known for writing poems and for loving music. He played the violin, banjo and accordion. He taught his daughters to play and together they formed two bands called, “The Family Circle” and then “Ernie and the Girls”. He also played in two other bands called “The Iowegians” and “The Temporary Three”. Ernie also enjoyed camping, fishing, dancing, playing cards, playing music and spending time with his family. Ernie was a member of the Decorah Lutheran Church, Helof Holm VFW Chapter #1977, and was a former Sons of Norway Member. Ernie is survived by his four daughters: Linda (Kevin) Gilbertson, Decorah, IA; Laurie (Greg) Koester, Waukon, IA; Lisa Kriener, Cresco, IA; and Lois (Scott) Thamert, Rochester, MN. Seven grandchildren: Erin (William) Montoya, Devin (Samantha) Gilbertson, Kayla (Austin) Weber, Ross (fiancé Carley Looney) Koester, Cody Kriener, Shaina Kriener and Hunter Thamert. Four great grandchildren: Liam and Landon Weber and Aleigha and Brielle Koester. Two sisters: Marlys Schulte, Decorah, IA, and Arla Mae (Lester) Hjelmeland, Winona, MN. Four sisters-in-law: Alvera (Carl) Leibl, Galesville, WI, Gloria (Jim) Erickson, Houston, MN, Margaret Lundtvedt, Caledonia, MN, and Marlene Lundtvedt, Albert Lea, MN. Lillian’s double first cousins: Diane Smith, Holmen, WI, and Jim Hanson, LaCrosse, WI. Ernie was preceded in death by his parents: Gunder and Olga (Skaim) Lundtvedt. His wife: Lillian Lundtvedt on January 13, 2010. Four brothers: Kenneth Lundtvedt, Oscar Lundtvedt, Gilman (Gladys) Lundtvedt and Arnold Lundtvedt. One sister: Agnes (Norman) Koester. His father-in-law and mother-in-law: Orville and Alma (Kamprud) Olson. Lillian’s double cousins: Shirley Hanson and Duane Olson and a special family friend: Howard Mahlum.