LA CROSSE – Richard Holman “Dick” Ernst, 76, died Monday, September 29, after a long illness. Dick was born to Paul H. and Elsie Wells Ernst in Indianapolis , and attended grade school there. His family later moved to New Augusta, Indiana, where he graduated from Pike Township High School.

Dick graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.S. in metallurgical engineering, supporting himself via the co-op program. He began his career doing research at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio. While at Battelle, he earned a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering from Ohio State University.

In 1961, he married Phyllis Wheeler at Rocklane Christian Church in Indiana.

He spent the next ten years working as a metallurgical engineer at Cummins Engine Co. in Columbus, Indiana.

He accepted a position as Manager of Materials Engineering (later including Chemistry) at the Trane Company in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in 1978. During his 23 years at Trane, his work included directing the Quality Improvement Process. Dick enjoyed the challenge of diagnosing component failures (often very large machine parts that had failed catastrophically) and tracing their root causes. The scanning electron microscope facility he initiated at Trane provided answers in many of these investigations. For several years, he chaired a committee of representatives of the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, whose goal was to help make a successful transition to new refrigerants that did not harm the ozone layer. The task of this committee was to oversee the work being done to make sure that materials and lubricants were compatible with the new refrigerants. During this ten year period, he traveled frequently to Washington, D.C. and twice to Japan to meet with industry experts. Dick received several awards and certificates of appreciation for this work and his other work at the Trane Company over the years.

Away from work, Dick loved nature, photography, music (playing saxophone in high school, and guitar later in life), and sports (playing tennis, hockey, golf, basketball, and softball). In retirement, Dick enjoyed helping others file their taxes under the AARP tax preparation program.

He immensely enjoyed trips he and Phyllis made to Africa and Peru with Learning in Retirement. Seeing the animals in their natural surroundings was a highlight.

Singles tennis twice a week with his good friend Paul Breidel, plus twice-weekly workouts at the health club, kept him happy and fit. He never missed a Badger basketball or football game. The same was true for the Packers and tennis matches on TV.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Phyllis, his sons, Darin Richard Ernst (Mary Chen), Eric Ryan Ernst (Rana Kang); his grandchildren Bruce Ernst, Margaret Ernst, Heidi Ernst, Madison Ernst, and Nathaniel Ernst; one sister, Paula McDaniel (Donald); two brothers-in-law, John Wheeler (Susan Maynard) and Jerald Wheeler (Ann); as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and grand nieces and grand nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 AM on December 13, 2014, at Coulee Region Cremation Group, 133 Mason St. Onalaska, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Lakeview Health Center, 902 E. Garland St., West Salem, WI. The family expresses its sincere appreciation to the staff at Lakeview for their excellent care.