EARNEST KERBY

Earnest Eugene Kerby, 72, of Aberdeen, passed away on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital. He fought a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held Saturday, December 15 at North Highland United Methodist Church. Burial was at ZCBJ Cemetery, Wagner on Monday, December 17. Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials.

Earnest Eugene Kerby was born in Unionville, MO, to Everett Eudean and Betty Jean (Andrew) Kerby on February 20, 1946. He started the first grade in Mendota, MO, and attended many other elementary schools in Missouri due to his step-father's job with road construction. He enjoyed making new friends at each school. He loved growing up with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Mendota and called acres of timber his playground.

Earnie confessed his faith in God on the front steps of the Mendota church on June 23, 1957, and was baptized by immersion in Shoul Creek near his Great-grandma White's home.

He moved to a farm near Dante, along with his parents in 1960, to care for his elderly grandparents. He enjoyed the farm life and did a lot of the farming while his step-father was on the road with construction.

He attended Wagner High School and graduated from there in 1964. His only regret in life is that he was unable to serve in the military. He enlisted in the Air Force following graduation, but did not pass the physical. This change in plans led him to a job at Stedronsky Brothers in Wagner and a 46-year career in plumbingandheating.Hemoved back to Missouri in 1965, and worked for Shriver Engineering in Centerville, IA, moving back to Yankton later that year working for Redlinger Brothers Plumbing & Heating. On June 10, 1967, he married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Kucera and transferred to Aberdeen where he was employed with Redlinger Brothers for seven years. He then worked for Bob Friske, Arnold Hauck and Jerry Henley before going into partnership with Al Sjovall. Earnie earned his Master Plumbers License and they opened A & E Plumbing in 1979. In 1989, he went to work for the Aberdeen School District as their Boiler Engineer and HVAC Technician. He worked at this job until his retirement in 2009.

Earnie was a charter member of North Highland United Methodist Church and was instrumental in its inception.

In 1994, Earnie was blessed to learn that he had 12 brothers and sisters. He loved this new chapter of his life, getting to know them and sharing in their life experiences.

Earnie's positive outlook on life and his adventurous spirit led him to travel many roads of our country. His true "obsession" was motorcycling, having traveled in excess of 200,000 miles on the various cycles he owned over the years. He spent many hours in his woodworking shop restoring antique furniture and creating beautiful new pieces that are cherished by his friends and family. He loved hunting for items to put in his collection of belt buckles, guns, and knives. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and friends.

Grateful for sharing Earnie's life are his wife, Sharon; two daughters: Lori (Robert) O'Keefe, Mitchell, and Lisa (Michael) Hartung, Aberdeen; one grandchild: Rylee Hartung; brothers: Jerel Kerby, Daingerfield, TX, Jesse Kerby, Dickson, TN, Vernon Kerby, Arlington, TN, John Koslowski, New York; sisters: Renee Cote', Knob Noster, MO, Aleta Harper, Daingerfield, TX; and sister-in-law: Linda Kerby, Hernando, FL.

Preceded in death by his mother, Betty Podrouzek, step-father, Bill Podrouzek (Pop), brothers, Barry Kerby and Everett (Dude) Kerby.