Earnest
Earnest L. Nunley
Ernie passed away Thursday, November 10, 2016 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.
He was born January 6, 1918 in Stephens County, Oklahoma the son of John and Mary (Patton) Nunley. Ernie served his country in the United States Army Air Force during WWII in England, France and Germany. After the war Ernie worked in Oklahoma, the Dakotas and Oregon. In the middle of December 1947 he came to Otsego to visit an Army buddy and decided to stay. Shortly after, Ernie met Thelma Burr and they were married December 18, 1948 in Watson Township. They spent over 50 years together until her passing in 1999. Ernie had worked at Valley Metal in Plainwell as a foreman and for Hammond Machinery until his retirement in 1983. He was very skilled and could fix or make anything. In 1991 he was asked to come and work at the Gilmore Car Museum, where he volunteered for 15 years.
Surviving are his step-children, Bill Jr. (Barbara) Burr of Plainwell and Sandy Burr of Otsego, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and sisters-in-law, Norma Shipley, Mary (Pat) McLaughlin and Margaret Guider.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Thelma and his siblings.
According to his wishes cremation has taken place.
Friends may visit with Ernie’s family from 3:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at the Winkel Funeral Home in Otsego.
Burial of ashes will take place at Hicks Cemetery in Watson Township at a later date.
Military Honors by Otsego VFW Post #3030.
Contributions in memory of Ernie may be made to
Talons Out Honor Flight of Michigan
or Otsego VFW Post #3030.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Earnest L. Nunley
Condolence Messages
Margaret guider
November 11, 2016 at 5:35 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Reply
Kathy and Scott Broers
November 11, 2016 at 5:36 pm
Thinking of you all
Send our hugs
Love you
Reply
Larry & Kathi Fuss
November 11, 2016 at 6:11 pm
We will certainly miss seeing Ernie walk by our house several times a day!! Many times he has sat on our porch and talked of his childhood with Larry!! Such a great and interesting guy. Rest in peace, Ernie!!
Reply
Bill & Brenda Standish
November 12, 2016 at 9:42 am
What a wonderful gentle man who we always have known as Pop. Our memories of him hold much love and admiration in our hearts which we will cherish forever.
Reply
Beth Parks
November 13, 2016 at 10:11 am
Ernie was a wonderful man. It is nice to think that he was able to live such a long, independent and good life. I’m sure that he and Thelma are enjoying each other’s company all over again. I’m sorry for your loss.
Reply
Emily
November 13, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Rip Mr. Nunley. I first met you when you were my customer at Hardings and I thought you were one of the nicest men I’d ever met. 30 years later you never changed. Thelma has been waiting for you
Reply
Don Paulsen
November 14, 2016 at 8:46 pm
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Grandpa Nunley. Those times that we were together we often talked about things that were of interest to both of us and that was good for both of us just listening and talking to each other. Grandpa Nunley will be missed
Reply
Sally Dam
November 17, 2016 at 10:16 pm
I met Ernie, when I would deliver Avon to Thelma back in the late seventies, early eighties! What a wonderful couple!!
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
Email
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
Your Name
*
Your Email
*
Their Name
*
Their Email
*
Message
CAPTCHA
Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Δ
He was born January 6, 1918 in Stephens County, Oklahoma the son of John and Mary (Patton) Nunley. Ernie served his country in the United States Army Air Force during WWII in England, France and Germany. After the war Ernie worked in Oklahoma, the Dakotas and Oregon. In the middle of December 1947 he came to Otsego to visit an Army buddy and decided to stay. Shortly after, Ernie met Thelma Burr and they were married December 18, 1948 in Watson Township. They spent over 50 years together until her passing in 1999. Ernie had worked at Valley Metal in Plainwell as a foreman and for Hammond Machinery until his retirement in 1983. He was very skilled and could fix or make anything. In 1991 he was asked to come and work at the Gilmore Car Museum, where he volunteered for 15 years.
Surviving are his step-children, Bill Jr. (Barbara) Burr of Plainwell and Sandy Burr of Otsego, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and sisters-in-law, Norma Shipley, Mary (Pat) McLaughlin and Margaret Guider.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Thelma and his siblings.
According to his wishes cremation has taken place.
Friends may visit with Ernie’s family from 3:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at the Winkel Funeral Home in Otsego.
Burial of ashes will take place at Hicks Cemetery in Watson Township at a later date.
Military Honors by Otsego VFW Post #3030.
Contributions in memory of Ernie may be made to
Talons Out Honor Flight of Michigan
or Otsego VFW Post #3030.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Earnest L. Nunley
Condolence Messages
Margaret guider
November 11, 2016 at 5:35 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Reply
Kathy and Scott Broers
November 11, 2016 at 5:36 pm
Thinking of you all
Send our hugs
Love you
Reply
Larry & Kathi Fuss
November 11, 2016 at 6:11 pm
We will certainly miss seeing Ernie walk by our house several times a day!! Many times he has sat on our porch and talked of his childhood with Larry!! Such a great and interesting guy. Rest in peace, Ernie!!
Reply
Bill & Brenda Standish
November 12, 2016 at 9:42 am
What a wonderful gentle man who we always have known as Pop. Our memories of him hold much love and admiration in our hearts which we will cherish forever.
Reply
Beth Parks
November 13, 2016 at 10:11 am
Ernie was a wonderful man. It is nice to think that he was able to live such a long, independent and good life. I’m sure that he and Thelma are enjoying each other’s company all over again. I’m sorry for your loss.
Reply
Emily
November 13, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Rip Mr. Nunley. I first met you when you were my customer at Hardings and I thought you were one of the nicest men I’d ever met. 30 years later you never changed. Thelma has been waiting for you
Reply
Don Paulsen
November 14, 2016 at 8:46 pm
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Grandpa Nunley. Those times that we were together we often talked about things that were of interest to both of us and that was good for both of us just listening and talking to each other. Grandpa Nunley will be missed
Reply
Sally Dam
November 17, 2016 at 10:16 pm
I met Ernie, when I would deliver Avon to Thelma back in the late seventies, early eighties! What a wonderful couple!!
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
Your Name
*
Your Email
*
Their Name
*
Their Email
*
Message
CAPTCHA
Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Δ
Guestbook
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors