Philip Rodney “Rod” Ernst

A celebration of life for Philip Rodney “Rod” Ernst, 84, Lawrence will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 29, 2018 at First United Methodist Church. There will be a private family military graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery. Rod passed away Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born December 10, 1933 in Lawrence, KS the son of Philip and Edna (Schaake) Ernst. They preceded him in death.

Rod was an avid bowler, bridge and poker player, and loved Kansas Jayhawks sports, particularly football and basketball, having season tickets to both. Rod had very eclectic tastes in music; he was passionate about all kinds of jazz; enjoyed classical, the Great American Songbook, classic country, roots music, and the occasional rock group like R.E.M. He had a wide range in literary interests from philosophy and ancient history, to biographies to classic spy thrillers. Rod had a thirst for knowledge; he often had several books opened at once. Until he was slowed in his later years, he enjoyed traveling, taking trips with his wife and family, and he looked forward to family reunions. Mostly, he loved his hardware store, and most of all, he loved his family.

Rod received his BS in Geology from the University of Kansas in 1957. He served his country in the United States Army from 1957-1959, and was a reservist from 1959-1963.

He owned and operated Ernst & Son Hardware store in Lawrence, a third-generation business, which originally began as Kennedy & Ernst in 1905, and become Ernst & Son in 1925.

He married Shirley Ann Dodson on August 23, 1976 in Eureka Springs, AR. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include his daughter, Lynda (Gary) Allen, Lawrence, Michael (Felicia) Miller, Overland Park, KS, Lisa Roth, Lee’s Summit, MO, Rebecca (Tim) King, Wichita, KS; cousins John McGrew and Patti McGrew, Lawrence; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

The family will greet friends from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

Memorial Contributions may be made in his name to Penn House or VNA Hospice and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

9 Condolences

  1. Fred Shirk on January 24, 2018 at 6:34 pm

    Great guy to stop in and just chat at the”” we have it someplace store””, yes he knew where everything in that old building, was in late December to get my “”hunting picture calendar” for 2018. Really saddens me to see this in our local paper. R.I.P



  2. Lyle Morris on January 25, 2018 at 9:00 am

    I bowled against Rod and his team for years.
    Theirs, was I a team I didn’t mind losing to, because they were so much fun to be around.
    I am going to miss that signature hat of his.
    My condolences go out to the Ernst family.
    Rest in peace, my friend.



  3. MOLLY COPLEN on January 25, 2018 at 11:19 am

    A landmark of Lawrence who will be missed. Loved going into the hardware store and he usually had the hard-to-find items no one carried. Most amazing that he always knew where to find that item in the hardware store.



  4. Jon Blumb on January 26, 2018 at 7:50 am

    All of us who knew Rod will miss our jolly friend very much.
    Many thanks to Rod, for all his help and friendship over the years.
    The Ernst family has my sincere sympathy!



  5. Robert M. Still Jr. on January 26, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    My Grandfather and Father (Still Construction) conducted Business with Ernst Hardware for years. Prayers and condolences to the Ernst Family.



  6. Bill London on January 27, 2018 at 5:57 am

    We have been fortunate enough to know Rod and his beautiful wife Shirley for over 15 years. They are our neighbors and treat our two daughters as their own. A little known secret is that Rod has kept up a wood swingset in his backyard which all of the children in the neighborhood can still come over and play on. The dozens of children that have grown up in the neighborhood, with our fenceless backyards have known him simply as grandpa Rod. He always had time for the children and their never ending stories. His loving personality and charming smile always lit up our children’s lives. From Christmas, to Halloween, to babies being born, to stitches in chins, to birthday parties, to neighborhood swim parties Rod and his wife Shirley have always been open and loving. He was a man to be admired and will be truly missed by our family and neighborhood.



  7. Paul Foutz on January 27, 2018 at 10:44 am

    My deepest sympathies to Shirley and the Ernst family. Rod was a great friend and fatherly figure, that I was blessed and thankful to know. I began working for him at Ernst and Son’s Hardware in 1989 through college, and stayed in touch since. Like the many others who worked for Rod over the years, we became part of his extended family. He was as kind, generous and jolly a man I’ve known. Rest In Peace my friend.



  8. Aaron Richardson on January 28, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    So sad to hear this news….

    I have many happy memories of working at Ernst & Son for a number of years while I was in high school and college during the mid-80s. Rod was a kindly and tolerant boss (I never did manage to memorize the contents of that daunting wall of drawers), and just a great, lovable guy.

    All my condolences to his family and many friends, and to the guys at the store. It feels like Lawrence loses a bit of its heart and soul with Rod’s passing….



  9. Cheryl Wonnell on March 11, 2018 at 4:20 pm

    I don’t take the paper and completely missed Rod’s death. I am so sorry. My Daddy, Clarence Seaver, was the shop foreman at the KU Scene Shop. He ran to Phil and Rod almost everyday for “something”. He thought the world of them. I was shocked when I read that he had died. I am so sorry I missed his funeral. Prayers for the family. He was an icon in downtown Lawrence and will be missed.



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