Ernest Lloyd Smith Sr. – 86 of Onalaska passed away peacefully on May 5th, 2021 at Lakeview Health Care center surrounded by family.

Ernest was born on February 21st, 1935 to Lester and Juanita Smith.  Ernest attended Logan high school in LaCrosse and he enlisted in the army in 1955. Ernest was very proud of his years in the army and the service he gave to our country.

Ernest married the love of his life Karen Bjorge on May 8th, 1976 and they shared 45 wonderful years together.

Ernest was a hard worker and a devoted family man. He loved his Chicago Cubs and his Green Bay Packers! You could often find him and Karen watching the games together, both actively yelling at the tv over the bad calls made by the refs or the umpires!  Ernest also had a love of reading and you would always see a western novel by his chair.  He also enjoyed relaxing with Karen while they watched old westerns on tv and he loved dancing with Karen to old country music. In his younger years Ernest loved to play softball and joined several different softball teams throughout the years and he also taught his children and some of his grandchildren all about pool and how to play the game and he would also sign himself and his son Michael up for father son bowling tournaments as often as he could.

Ernest would sit and discuss almost any topic with friends and family and he was always able to offer his quick wit and humor to help ease the minds of his friends and family when they needed it most.

If you ever had the pleasure of visiting Ernest and Karen’s home, you knew you would be offered a meal or snack as soon as you arrived and even if you declined you would inevitably end up with a sandwich or some kind of snack in front of you!

Ernest loved seeing his family happy and making them laugh and boy did he give us all a lot of laughs! Anyone who knew Ernest was a better person just by knowing him.

Ernest lived a lot of life in his 86 years and he has definitely left us all with a bit of a broken heart, but he also left us with a lifetime of memories to help fill that void and to make sure he can still bring a smile to our face.

Ernest is survived by his wife Karen Smith of Onalaska; brother Harold (Judy) Smith of Onalaska; brother David (Mary) Smith of Onalaska; sister Anita Goldbeck of Rockland; sister Gloria (Donald) Kelly of Onalaska; sister in law Phyllis Smith of LaCrosse; sister in law Joyce Olaff of LaCrosse; brother in law Bill Faas of Onalaska; Son Scott Smith of Oconomowoc; daughter Kim DeWall (Danny Pierce) of Sparta; son Craig (Kristal) Ross of Holmen; daughter Karla(Bill) Gaines of LaCrosse; son Ernest Smith Jr. of Wisconsin Rapids; daughter Dianna (Damon) Revolinski of Onalaska; son Michael (Penny) Smith of LaCrosse; daughter Tamara (Andy) Bush of Bakersfield,CA. He is further survived by his 29 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews and many friends he made throughout his life.

Ernest was preceded in death by his father Lester Smith; his mother Juanita Smith; his son Steven Smith; granddaughter April Leitner-Salek; mother in law Clara King; father in law Kenneth Bjorge; brother Stanly Smith; sister Lois Faas; brother Donnie Smith; brother Ronnie Smith; brother Gilbert Smith; brother Melvin Smith; nephew Mark Kelly; brother in law Kurt Bjorge; brother in law Jim Bjorge; brother in law Dan Olaff; brother in law Roy Goldbeck.

We would like to extend our gratitude and give thanks to the staff at Lakeview Health care Center for all of the care and support they gave Ernest and his family during this difficult time.

A celebration of life will be held in honor of Ernest on Saturday, May 15th, 2021 at Coulee Region Cremation Group, 133 Mason St. Onalaska, WI 54650 from 1 – 3 pm with military honors at 2:30pm.  A luncheon will follow.