Reverend Ernest Baumgartner
On Tuesday, May 30th, 2023, God released our dad’s eternal soul from his body of pain. We will miss him with all our hearts, but we also rejoice with all our hearts, that he is with his beloved Heavenly Father.
Ernest Baumgartner was born in April, 1937, in Vinkofzi, Yugoslavia. He was the eldest son of Mattias and Rosina Baumgartner. Four years later, in 1941, he was followed by his one and only beloved sibling, Mattias.
Europe had been devastated after WW2, so the family immigrated into Canada. In 1949 they arrived on the shores of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and made their first home in Rodney, Ontario.
Ernest graduated from the Berean Bible College in Germany in 1960, and upon his return, met, fell head over heels in love, and married Erna Tonn, on November 5, 1960. Never looking back, they immediately began a lifelong journey of ministry together. Heaven alone will reveal the impact of their lives through their love and sacrifice.
Dad became Reverend Ernest Baumgartner when he was ordained in 1962.
His years of ministry included: Youth Pastor and later Assistant Pastor in Windsor, Ontario; Senior Pastor in Leamington, Ontario; Senior Pastor in Barrhead, Alberta; Senior Pastor in Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Senior Chaplain at Shepherd’s Care Foundation in Edmonton, Alberta. In addition to spending many summers running Kid’s and Youth Camps at Alberta Beach Camp, he served on the German Branch Executive Board and was the treasurer for the Alberta District of the German Branch of Alberta.
Over the years, he was instrumental in helping raise millions of dollars to assist in building projects for churches, camps, and senior citizen’s homes.
In 50 years of ministry, Ernest touched countless lives and accomplished not only the construction of buildings, but building hopes, dreams, and eternal foundations in many people’s lives.
Ernest’s true loves were his Lord and his family. His passing leaves to mourn his faithful, loving, and committed wife, Erna Baumgartner; Rosalie Drysdale (Ken), Emilie Carothers-Smith (Dan), Beverlie Stewart (John), and Kimberlie Schmidt (John); 11 beautiful grandchildren; and many more great-grandchildren; as well as many friends from all across the country.
Ernest was predeceased by his parents, Mattias and Rosina Baumgartner; his brother, Mattias Baumgartner; and his son-in-law, George Carothers.
Please join us in Celebrating Reverend Ernest Baumgartner’s Life at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 16, 2023, at Bethel Pentecostal Church, 5410-53 Ave, in Barrhead, Alberta. His funeral will also be live streamed on YouTube. There will be refreshments to follow.
Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations can be made to The Home of The Good Shepherd or Life Springs Church Missions. Thank you.
Arrangements entrusted to Connelly-McKinley Edmonton South Funeral Home.
