Erlyne Ernst's Obituary
Erlyne Ernst was born on December 29, 1940 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the only child of Winfred 'Paul' and Margaret Rupprecht. Her father worked a variety of jobs, including technical writer. Her mother worked at a bank.When she was a young child, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. It was there that Erlyne went to grade school and high school, graduating from Paseo High School in 1958.After high school, Erlyne went to Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska, to study to be an elementary school teacher in the Missouri Synod Lutheran school system. She graduated from Concordia in 1962 and was assigned to teach at Trinity Lutheran School in Paso Robles, California, where she taught first through fourth grade for one year.After that school year Erlyne married Walt Ernst, whom she had met in San Jose, where her parents and Walt's family were living. Walt and Erlyne had met at a Lutheran Young Adults swim party and Walt had driven Erlyne and some others to a miniature golf course.Walt and Erlyne were married in San Jose on July 13, 1963. Since Walt was working for the Post Office at the San Francisco International Airport, he and Erlyne moved to San Mateo County. They lived first in San Bruno, and then moved to San Mateo where they lived for 29 years, before purchasing their home in Foster City.The Lord blessed Erlyne and Walt with four children, who have brought them special joy: Beth Cunningham of Corona, CA; Brian of Atlanta, Georgia; Rene Reincke of La Mirada, California; and Brent of Foster City, California. Their children have blessed Erlyne and Walt with six grandchildren.For about 30 years Erlyne taught in the Christian day school at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. In fact, when the school opened in the middle of the 1969-70 school year, she was one of the first two teachers, along with Pastor Waldschmidt. She continued to teach over the years, offering her services to the congregation without any remuneration.Erlyne touched so many hearts and lives through her gentle, loving teaching, and students still speak fondly of the influence she had on their lives. When she was most recently confined to a care facility, former colleagues and students visited her, showing the affection and respect they had for her.Erlyne was committed to her Savior and her church. She was very involved in church life. Besides her volunteer teaching, over the years she and Walt entertained many of the young people from the church, and she helped provide the food for many church suppers. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and sewing.Erlyne's great joy, after her Savior, was her family, and she treasured the times she was able to spend with them. Her eyes lit up and she got a smile on her face whenever she talked of them. She was especially appreciative of their and Walt's presence and support in her last days.
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