Ernest Frederick Recknagel, 94, went to his eternal reward on the evening of April 12, 2016.
One of America’s greatest generation, he was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather who lovingly served his Lord, his family, and his country.
Ernie was born Nov. 7, 1921, to Christian and Freida (Koehn) Recknagel in LaGrange, Wisconsin, and spent almost his entire life in the East Troy area. A child of the depression, he left school after the eighth grade to help on the family farm. Soon he was enlisting for World War II.
He spent about three years in service, mostly at Bury St. Edmunds, England, repairing airplanes for the 8th U.S. Army Air Corps. Later, he was a long time member of American Legion Post 188, and the Oak Ridge cemetery board, where he remembered his comrades by flagging their grave sites.
He was also chaplain for the “Rally Round the Troops” meetings in Elkhorn. Several years ago he was overwhelmed with the gratitude displayed toward him and his fellow vets when he traveled to Washington D.C. in the Honor Flight program.
Engaged on Aug. 7, 1942, Ernie returned from the war to soon marry the love of his life Dorothy (Dot) Irene Troeger on Oct. 26, 1946.
Their blessed union lasted nearly 69 1/2 years, and produced a son, Mark, and a daughter Laurel (Gerald) Johnson.
Additionally, he was especially proud of his two grandsons, Matthew (Tina) Johnson, a police officer in Racine, and Ryan (Jamie) Johnson, a nearly 12-year member of our U.S. Navy.
Ernie’s first priority in life was his Christian faith. He continued to share this message with his visiting nurses even in his last weeks. He was a life-long member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Troy, where he served many years on the council, including a term as president. But he was best remembered for sharing his wonderful tenor voice during the services, with the choir, in duets, trios, and quartets, or singing solo.
He was a life-long student of his musically trained wife, who played the organ for 70 years at St. Paul’s, and was always his accompanist.
Also after the war, Ernie began his 41 year career at Trent Tube. After a brief time doing maintenance, he found his home in the electrical department, where he spent the rest of his working life. He earned his high school diploma by correspondence, and took enough other courses to be a design electrical engineer for the last half of his employment. He would draw up electrical circuitry for the machinery and oversee its installation as the business grew to three plants in East Troy.
As Trent Tube expanded to Georgia, California, and the Netherlands, Ernie made trips there as well, including 18 to Helmond in the Netherlands.
At the age of 64, he nearly lost his left arm in an industrial accident. He was med-flighted to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, where the surgeons were ready to amputate. Ernie declined the offer, told them he was confident in their skills, trusted the Lord, and after six hours of surgery, the arm was saved with most of its usefulness.
Ernie enjoyed going on many vacations with family members, working inside and outside the house, and taking care of his large wooded property.
Ernie is survived by his wife Dorothy, his children, grandchildren, and their spouses. He is further survived by his brother, Harold (Jeannine) Recknagel; and by sisters-in-law,Joyce Recknagel and Shirley (Wayne) Shoup; as well as other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Jeanette; sisters, Eleanor (Robert) Sommer, Dorothy (Clarence Runge) Jungherr, Edna (Howard) Ames; brother, Elmer (Bud) Recknagel; and brother-in-law, Porter Troeger.
The funeral will be 3 p.m. on Monday, April 18, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2665 North St., East Troy. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The Rev. Timothy Kujath will officiate.
Memorials may be made to the church, the Disabled American Veterans, or an organization of your choice.
The family would like to thank the warm, caring staff of Seasons Hospice.
Finally, Ernie wanted to close with the beautiful words he penned for Memorial Day in 2005:
Today the flags at Oak Ridge fly
The breeze is soft, under azure sky.
The vets at rest, the battles o’er
The guns are still, to fire no more.
Some came back whole, some others less
But each gave much and gave their best.
So friends and family, do not weep
For here I rest, and here I sleep.
And may this day your comfort be
That God has saved a vet like me.
