Ernie Satnik was born in 1926 in Roseau County, Minnesota. He had three brothers and one sister and was a devout Catholic all his life. He grew up on a farm and learned to work hard and created family entertainment by learning the piano and accordion.
Ernie attended the Crookston, Minnesota agriculture school, continued farming and met his bride in Alberta, Canada. After some time on the farm the decision was made to move to Saint Paul, Minnesota to seek more fruitful employment. Ernie worked a variety of jobs, including fixing McCulloch chain saws. (Loved that tune! "You're in luck when you've got a McCulloch chain saw!") He ultimately decided to return to school and become a bookkeeper.
Unbeknownst to the children, the times were tough and Saint John's Catholic Church kept the family in food until Ernie got a job as a bookkeeper with the local Teamsters union. Then the good times rolled. The pressure was off, and 8 children later he was a father, just one short of a complete baseball team.
What to do? Be the full time pitcher!
He kept the family close by having them participate in many things together. It's one of those things only a large family could understand. Many of those times were Sunday afternoons when he slyly took all of the children out on adventures so Agnes could rest!
Once the children were out on their own, Ernie and Agnes moved to White Bear Lake Minnesota where they spent their retirement years, other than a brief stint in Santa Cruz, California where they took care of Ernie's aging sister.
In his 80's Ernie developed Parkinson's disease and struggled with determination against this condition; the worst part being difficulty swallowing. Thank goodness he could still eat ice cream! That always brought a smile to his face. White Bear Lake Cup n' Cone was well visited!
Ernie died peacefully under hospice care with Joanne, his eldest daughter, playing gentle music on his piano.
Satnik,
Ernest F. âErnieâ
Beloved Dad, Grandpa & Great Grandpa
Passed away peacefully on October 10, 2018 at the age of 92 years. Preceded in death by his wife Agnes; son-in-law David Keays and siblings Agnes Hundreiser, Thomas, John & Joseph âBillâ. Ernie will be dearly missed by his children Mary Joanne Keays, Joe (Barb), Francis (Jennifer), John (Lynn), Sharon, Ruth (Greg) Dubay, David (Joan) and Paula (Steve) Moris; 32 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren and many other family & friends. Former Grand Knight and avid ham radio operator (WDOFSP). Mass of Christian Burial Monday, October 15, 11:00 am at ST. MARY OF THE LAKE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 4741 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake. Entombment Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation Sunday (TODAY) from 2-5:00 pm at MUELLER MEMORIAL, 4738 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake and one hour before the Mass on Monday at church.If desired, memorials can be made in Ernie's name for Parkinsonâs Research through direct mail to the Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, or online athttps://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donateMC