Ernest R. Starr, 98, currently of Huntsville AL, recently of Yuma AZ, and a former longtime resident of Bremen IN, passed away on Saturday, October 21, 2023. He was born on March 11, 1925 in Kewanna, IN, to Wallace C. Starr and Violet Hudkins Starr.
Ernest graduated from Culver (IN) High School in 1943 and promptly joined the US Army. He was sent to the Pacific Theatre, assigned to the 147th Field Artillery Battalion and served in the Philippine Liberation. After VJ Day he remained in Japan for 9 months as part of the occupation forces until the spring of 1946. He rose to the grade of Tech Sgt and was Honorably Discharged upon his return to Indiana.
On August 25, 1946 he married High School Sweetheart, Mary Ellen Peer. Together they would celebrate 63 anniversaries and raise four sons, Kenneth, Richard, Bruce, and Edwin.
In 1949, Ernest graduated from Ball State (Muncie IN) and began his professional career by working in large corporate accounting departments including AMI (Automatic Music Incorporated, the Juke Box people) in Grand Rapids MI. A desire to move into private practice and return to small town Indiana lead him to move his family to Bremen in 1962. At the same time, he sat for the rigorous Certified Public Accountant exams and became a CPA. He took on several partners over the years while providing Marshall County’s leading accounting service. He also taught accounting at Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) and Ancilla College.
The move to Bremen also led him to First United Church of Christ. He was an active member and eager participant in many church activities. Even after retiring to Arizona, every return visit to Northern Indiana had to include a Sunday service at his home church.
As young man, Ernest attained Eagle Scout. Throughout his life, he maintained an interest in many activities. He coached Little League, served as president of the Bremen Kiwanis Club, maintained an Amateur Radio License, and was a member of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Association. An avid (though not particularly good) golfer into his early 90’s, he enjoyed Rook, Scrabble, Sudoku, and crosswords. Ernest was an early fan of one of Northern Indiana’s biggest industries, some of whom became clients, RV travel; starting with a tent in the trunk of his ’54 Chevy and moving all the way thru to motorhomes.
Ernest was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife Mary Ellen, and son Richard. He is survived by sons Kenneth (Nancy) Starr of Huntsville AL, Bruce (Hasib) Starr of Worcester MA, and Edwin (Kimberly) Starr of Conway AR. He has four grandchildren, Kristi, Robbie, Zachary, and Bethany; and five great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be at 1:00pm ET on Monday October 30, 2023 at the Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen IN and will be officiated by Pastor Mark Roeda. Friends may call from 11:00am to 1:00pm at Mishler’s prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Bremen Cemetary.
