Ernestine Knoblich, 82, passed from this life on Feb. 8, 2011 in Tacoma. She was born April 21, 1928 in Candu, N.D. She was the first born of Carl and Caroline Schultz. When Ernestine was 10, her mother passed away from an appendicitis infection. Her father was unable to care for her and her younger sister and brother, so subsequently the children were placed in foster homes and eventually in the homes of family members. Ernestine worked on the Harold Sellon farm until the time of her marriage to Edwin Knoblich in May of 1947. From this union four children were born.
After their marriage, she moved to Whidbey Island where she lived with her husband until the summer of 2000. At that time, due to health issues, Edwin and Tena (Ernestine) moved to Tacoma, where they lived close by their eldest son and daughter-in-law for five years. For the next four years Ernestine lived at Life Manor and SpringRidge Assisted Living with her husband. Following Mr. Knoblich’s death in 2009, Ernestine continued to live at SpringRidge and for the last nine months at Manor Care of Tacoma.
Ernestine and Edwin Knoblich were charter members of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. When they moved to Tacoma, they became members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church near the Narrows Bridge.
Mrs. Knoblich was preceded in death by her mother and father and by her sister, Elaine Thompson and her brother Bert Schultz. She was also preceded in death by her husband Edwin of 61 years.
She is survived by one daughter, Carol Holbert of Paris, Texas, sons Don and wife Mary of Spanaway, Arnie and wife Pat of Burbank, Wash., and Lloyd of Northport, Wash. She is also survived by six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon. Interment will follow the service at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor, followed by a reception back at the funeral home. Friends may go online at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com to sign a guest register and leave memories for the family.
