Norm Ernsberger

Norm was born March 30th, 1922, the youngest of a large family. He led a very full life, with common themes of hard work, shared sacrifice, and generous support of the family he loved.

Norm was well known by his family and friends for the expression "I've made up my mind." Once Norm had made up his mind about something you could consider it done, no matter what obstacles happened to be in the way. He began his working life as a kid picking (and being paid in) potatoes. He ended it retiring from Capitol Tooling, a company he founded in the 50's with equipment he rescued from a junkyard. Before and after, there are simply too many stories to tell here.

He grew up near "Ernsberger street" (Ironwood) at a time when it was more common to form lifetime friends. He made many in the River Park section of Mishawaka. It was there that he met Violet Kish and eventually married her December 5th, 1942. She truly was the love of his life, and we have many fond memories of Kish-Ernsberger family goings on.

He volunteered for the Navy and served from 1944 to 1946, and set up two machine shops in Guam, where he did his duty to protect the country he loved. Once he returned from the war, he built a house in Bercliff where he and Vi started a family and took care of his mother in her final days. In the mid 50's Norm sold the house and bet on himself, moving the family into Walnut Grove and putting the proceeds of the sale into founding of Capitol Tooling on State Line Road. He grew the business, eventually moving it to Walnut Street, and later to its final location on Voorde Drive, in the Airport Industrial Park. Capitol was well regarded and trained more apprentices than any other shop in the area. It was a great place to work as long as you were willing to give your best, as Norm surely expected it. The business was sold in 1984. His success was shared generously with his kids and grandkids, providing them every opportunity to find their own way.

After he retired, Norm and Vi built a home on Lake Cora in Paw Paw Michigan and acquired a home in Englewood Florida where he and Vi split their time for many happy years. He never fully recovered from the loss of Vi in 2008. He lived the rest of his life independently and continued to drive to Florida every year (including this one) making sure to always stop and see friends and relatives along the way. The beginning of the end came when he fell and broke his hip in Florida on March 26th. We celebrated his 90th birthday in the hospital in Venice with a birthday cake brought by one of numerous caring neighbors. He transferred to a rehab facility and was trying to get back on his feet when he was overcome with an infection and passed on April 12th. His memory lives on through his family and wonderful friends, of whom there are too many to count. He will be laid to rest next to Violet. He is survived by his son Craig and daughter-in-law Tina Ernsberger, and his daughter Lori and son-in-law Barry Simms, along with 5 grandchildren (Daniel and Sandra Ernsberger, Shawn, Ashley, and Addie Shippy), and 2 great grandchildren. Much has been made of "the greatest generation." Norm and Vi embodied this notion in every way. They will never be forgotten.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 N. Ironwood Drive, South Bend, IN 46635. Friends may visit with the family from 4:00 - 8:00 PM Tuesday in Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave, South Bend and from 9:00-10:00 Wednesday at church. Military graveside services and burial will follow in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger.

Contributions in memory of Norm may be made to VA Northern Indiana Health Care System c/o VANIHCS, Voluntary Services Office, 2121 Lake Avenue, Ft. Wayne, IN 46805. Online condolences may be sent to the Ernsberger Family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

07/04/2024 EJS

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