Ernest Gohlke

Ernest E. Gohlke, age 83, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on December 31, 2018. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1129 Pat Booker Road, Universal City, Texas, with lunch to follow. A Visitation will also be held at Hammons Funeral Home in Littlefield, Texas on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 10:00 AM, with interment following at 12:00 PM at Littlefield Memorial Park with the Rev. Gary Morgan-Gohlke officiating.

Ernie was born in Vernon, Texas on March 20, 1935, and moved with his family to a cotton farm near Littlefield, Texas in 1941. He graduated from Littlefield High School in 1954 and enrolled at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas. During college Ernie faithfully attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Denton, where he was active in Gamma Delta (a Lutheran student fellowship). Following graduation from North Texas State in 1958, he began his teaching career in inner-city Dallas public schools. Ernie met Annette Phillips at a Halloween party at St. Paul's in 1958, and they were married on August 27, 1960 at Christ Lutheran in San Antonio, Texas.

One year later Ernie accepted a position as a school teacher with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools at Misawa Air Base, Japan, beginning a nearly 20-year period of life overseas. Their first son, David, was born at Misawa in 1963. The family moved from Japan to Harmon Air Force Base in Newfoundland, Canada in 1964, stopping on the way in San Antonio, Texas for the birth of their second son, Gary. In 1969 Ernie and Annette transferred to Terceira Island in the Azores, Portugal, where their third son, Michael, was later born. While stationed at Lajes Air Base, Ernie moved into education administration as a principal of the high school and later as an elementary school counselor. Given the importance of God in his life, Ernie took it upon himself to instruct David and Gary in Lutheran confirmation education which lead to their confirmation in his home congregation at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Littlefield, Texas.

In 1979, Ernie supported Annette's career advancement by following her to Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois, and became an Instructor for the Air Force. Ernie was an active member at American Lutheran Church, where Michael was later confirmed. Ernie and Annette finally returned to Texas in 1984 with Annette's transfer to Randolph Air Force Base in Universal City, and Ernie became an Instructor Trainer at Brooke Army Medical Center and earned the Master Instructor designation. Ernie then transferred to Randolph Air Force Base where he retired after 32 years of Federal civil service. He and Annette joined Christ the King Lutheran Church in Universal City in 1986, where Ernie remained a member for the next 32 years.

Following his retirement in 1993, Ernie supported Annette in her career, traveled the world with her during their next 17 "golden years", and enjoyed being a grandfather to Katie and Bethany, Christopher and Joshua, and Travis and Jon-Marc. A highlight during retirement were the many cruises Ernie and Annette took, sailing to all seven continents and cruising twice with all of their children and grandchildren.

In 2013, due to health issues, Ernie and Annette moved from Universal City to the Army Residence Community. Despite health challenges, Ernie rarely complained and enjoyed his last years traveling often to Houston to see family and friends.

Ernie fell and injured himself on Christmas Eve. Despite a successful surgery, at 5 PM on December 31, 2018, Ernie succumbed to a post-surgical illness and passed into the loving care and eternal rest of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. At the time of his death he was surrounded by his wife, sons and loving family.

Ernie was always a Godly man. He lived a life of compassion, humility, fairness, honesty, and generosity to others, and he inspired those values in his family and those around him.

Ernie is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Annette; three sons and their wives, David & Nancy Gohlke of Houston, Texas, Gary & Carol Morgan-Gohlke of Shoreacres, Texas, and Michael & Rita Gohlke of Brisbane, California; six grandchildren, Christopher Gohlke, Joshua Gohlke, Katie Sechrist & husband Matt, Bethany Ferrell & husband Jason, Jon-Marc Wilchar, and Travis Wilchar; five great-grandchildren, Kaylen Sechrist, Jensen Sechrist, Ethne Ferrell, Harrison Ferrell, and Blake Wilchar; brother, Hubert Gohlke & wife Mary Helen of Farwell, Texas; sister-in-law, Vadarae Gohlke of Littlefield, Texas; sisters, Gladys Hobratschk of Littlefield, Texas and Edith Bourland of Houston, Texas; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman & Christa Gohlke; siblings, Mildred Twenhafel & husband the Rev. Arnold, Arthur Gohlke & wife Mary, Eldon Gohlke, and Alice Bauer & husband the Rev. Jack.

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