Dolores Kathryn 'Dee' Ernst

Dolores Dee K. Ernst, 79, of Bellevue, passed away Friday, February 9th, 2007 at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque. Dee was born October 7th, 1927 in Bellevue, daughter of the late Clarence J. and Florence S. (Efferding) Koppes. She married Eugene Tuffy Ernst on September 4th, 1946 in Bellevue. He survives. Dee was a Telephone Operator for the Iowa Telephone Company in Bellevue and later worked at the Savanna Army Depot. She was a member of the Bellevue American Legion Post 273 Ladies Auxiliary. She had worked as a teachers aide for both Bellevue High School and Bellevue Marquette. She also was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Besides her loving husband Eugene Tuffy Ernst, survivors include, two sons, Dennis (Jane) Ernst, Dale (Jo) Ernst and one daughter, Debbie (Lorin) Schwager all of Bellevue, nine grandchildren & seven great grandchildren; brothers, Dorrence (Mary Lou) Koppes of Arizona, Russell (Ruby) Koppes of Montana and Ronald (Elizabeth) Koppes of Bellevue; sisters Joan Dickerson and Vera Patterson of Arizona, Joyce (Richard) Mahnke of Peosta; Marilyn (Wayne) Kratz and Carol (Carl) Heying all of Dubuque. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by one brother, John Koppes, nephew Curt Kratz, great nephew, Tim McAuliffe, mother-in-law, and father-in-law, George & Tillie Ernst and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, February 13th, 2007 at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Bellevue. The Rev. Fr. Stephen Meyer & Rev. Fr. Richard Schaefer will concelebrate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call on Monday from 3-7 PM at the Kingery ~ Lemke Funeral Home and again on Tuesday from 9:30 am until the time of procession to church. Kingery~Lemke Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of the arrangements. Online at www.kingeryfuneralhome.com