The Rev. Kenneth W. Ernstmeyer, 79, of Fremont, formerly of Hooper, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998, at the Fremont Area Medical Center.

Services were Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont with the Rev. David Loeschen officiating.

Pallbearers were Shane Rager, Brannon Morse, Phillip Ernstmeyer, Jr., Brent Morse, Larry Brink, Russell Callaway and Jason Ernstmeyer. – Junior pallbearers were Kenneth, Michael, Seth and Nathan Ernstmeyer. Honorary pallbearers were pastors of the Fremont Circuit, Missouri Synod.

Burial was in Memorial Cemetery in Fremont.

He was born Nov. 1, 1918, in Polk to Walter and Helen (Nierman) Ernstmeyer. He grew up in Scotia and Jansen. He attended St. Paul’s College at Concordia, Mo., for two years and then attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis for four years.

He was ordained at Hancock, Md., in 1944.

On July 17, 1945, he married M. Naomi Barney in Staplehurst.

He served parishes at Hancock and Salisbury, Md., and in Scotia, Utica and Franklin. He served as pastor at Hooper from 1971 until retirement in 1994 when he moved to Fremont.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont.

He is survived by his wife, Naomi; three sons and daughters-in-law, Phillip and Kaye Ernstmeyer of Grand Island, David and Sheridan Ernstmeyer of Austin, Texas, and Jeffrey and Nina Ernstmeyer of Derby, Kan.; two daughters and a son-in-law, Constance Rager of Omaha and Ruth Ann and Deland Morse of Orlando, Fla.; a brother and sister-in-law, Deverne and Ruth Ernstmeyer of Lincoln; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Lois and Neal Hafemeister of Lincoln and Ruth and Jack Wilson of Ventura, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Mark, and two grandchildren.

Memorials are suggested to the Seminary Students Fund at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo; Trinity Lutheran Church, Fremont; or The Lutheran Hour.

Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont was in charge of arrangements.