Mr. Harold "Ernie" Edward Young, 79, of Rochester was surrounded by his loving family when he passed away at Life Care Center, Rochester at 10:25 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15 , 2017.

Born in South Bend at St. Joseph Hospital on July 27 , 1937, Ernie  was the treasured son of Earl and Helen Young.Growing up he shared his childhood with his sister Judy and  half-brother Richard Eldridge. With great pride, Ernie graduated from Richland Center High School in 1955.

In the Presbyterian Church in Rochester, o n September 1 , 1967, Ernie married the love of his life, Carole Grace Potter. Together they shared nearly 50 years of life's adventures. Over the years the family tree grew with the added blessings of six grandchildren.

Dedicated as a foreman, Ernie enjoyed a  career with General Motors for nearly three and a half decades. He had been a faithful member of the First Christian Church. Upon retirement, Ernie and his wife Carole moved to Mission Texas for a  ten years. Later they returned home, to Rochester.

With an appetite for history and love for travel, Ernie and Carole enjoyed traveling across the United States. A few memorable destinations being Mt. Rushmore, Gettysburg, and San Diego. An avid sports fan, Ernie enjoyed cheering for Notre Dame, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Green Bay Packers.  When  he was relaxing, always at his side were his treasured canine companions, Mitzi and Butch, the Boston Terriers he adored.

With a passion for reading, Carole and Ernie  shared a collection in their library that surpassed three thousand books. One of his favorite authors was James Michener. As an American outdoorsman, Ernie loved boating on the sparkling waters of Lake Manitou and snowmobiling on the trails in Pure Michigan. Ernie will also be remembered for his fondness of growing roses.

Left to cherish Ernie's memory are his wife Carole; sons: Lance S. Young and wife Becky of Rochester, Shawn Foster Young and wife Jasmine of Pasadena, Maryland, and Mark Samuel Dibble and wife Claire of Johns Creek, Georgia; two daughters: Melinda Anne Coomes and husband Thomas of North Liberty, and Michelle Susanne Kaylan and husband Howard of Seattle, Washington; a sister, Judy Taylor of Rochester; sister-in-law Susan Hall of Westfield, Pennsylvania; six grandchildren: Tom Coomes, Haley Coomes, Mike Dibble, Shaun Dibble, Jackie Young and husband Eric, and Samantha Sawyer and husband Joshua.


Preceding Ernie in death are his parents Earl and Helen Young,  half-brother Richard Eldridge, a brother-in-law, Kenneth Taylor and the Bostons of his heart, Mitzi and Butch.

Pastor Mike Van Heyningen will officiate services.   Military honors will be conducted by the Fulton County Veteran's Honor Guard and the US Army Honor Guard. Interment will be in the Rochester IOOF Cemetery.