Ernie Lee Schillinger

Ernie L. Schillinger, 68, of Johnston, IA, passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center from complications related to adult-onset muscular dystrophy. Visitation will be held April 20, 2024, at All Saints Catholic Church in Des Moines, IA, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with Mass to follow at 11:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Catholic Church.

Ernie was born on March 23, 1956, in Moline, IL to Lloyd and Marjorie (Westerhof) Schillinger, and he was raised in Osco, IL. Ernie was an outstanding scholar, graduating summa cum laude from Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, IA, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He maintained his CPA certification throughout his life. Following graduation, he worked at Deloitte Haskins & Sells before joining MidAmerican Energy Company in Davenport, IA. Ernie retired from MidAmerican in 2017. He developed many close friends at work and shared his great sense of humor with them, especially during the Friday night outings in Davenport.

Ernie met Sara J. Hoffa at a Halloween party (both wearing very silly costumes), and they married June 14, 1986, in Davenport, IA, where they lived before moving to Sioux City, IA in 1995. They moved to Johnston, IA in 1997. Ernie was overjoyed when their son Matthew was born. Ernie’s love, pride and support of Matt never waned.

Ernie always enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He loved the mountains, and the family’s many summer car trips to Colorado and Wyoming were filled with adventure, laughs and natural beauty. Holidays spent with his family in Osco were memorable (in a good way) for him. Going to the movie theater was a great pleasure for Ernie, and he looked forward to watching action and comedy movies. Ernie was a true “numbers guy” and was a master at creating and managing budgets for the family and others. If it had a number in it, he remembered it; he could tell you every phone number he ever had in his life.

Ernie was a kind and gentle person, seeing the best in others. He always tried to do the right thing in life and strived to treat everyone fairly. Before taking action, he would spend hours thinking about how people would be impacted. He had a strong faith. Ernie frequently thought he wasn’t worthy of others; what he didn’t understand was we weren’t worthy of him.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Brenda Papke and Carla Schillinger, and nephew Kevin Papke.

Left to cherish Ernie’s memory is his wife Sara; son Matt; brother Barry (Lydia) Schillinger; many nieces and nephews; and cousins.