Ernie R. Fork

Rural Gibsonburg resident, Ernie R. Fork, 88, died Sunday, April 1, 2012, at Fremont Memorial Hospital E.R. Ernie was born on January 2, 1924, in Gibsonburg to Louis H. & Nettie Caroline (Solman) Fork. A 1942 graduate of Gibsonburg High School, he worked on the family farm through his young adulthood and later with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 18 as a heavy equipment operator. On December 22, 1943, he married Harriet C. Gabel in Monroe, MI. Together they shared a passion of buying and selling antiques and collectibles. Ernie enjoyed his earlier years of riding motorcycles and during his later years collecting Indian motorcycles & memorabilia. He also enjoyed frequenting auctions. Surviving are children, Joanne Busdeker of Pemberville and Randy (Sheryl) Fork of Perrysburg; grandchildren, Ronda Kimmet Reed, Jodi Busdeker Stewart, Jason Busdeker, Lindsay Fork, Amber Fork Aossey and Stacy Fork; great-grandchildren: Amanda Reed; Samantha Stewart, John Stewart, Jr. and Abigail Stewart; Ava Fork Picken; Laila Aossey and Maxwell Aossey; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Harriet, who passed on May 29, 2008; daughters, Roxanne K. Fork and Donna J. Kimmet; son-in-law, Nelson Busdeker; grandson, Michael Kimmet; infant granddaughters, Kay Ann and Ruth Busdeker; brothers, Raymond, Ralph and Kenneth Fork; and sisters, Hazel Pinter and Irene Price. Visitation will be at the Herman-Kinn-Veh Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Gibsonburg, on Wednesday, April 4, from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be Thursday, April 5, 11:00 a.m., at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gibsonburg where there will be an additional hour of visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at West Union Cemetery, Gibsonburg. Contributions in Ernie's memory may be made to the Gibsonburg Volunteer Fire Dept. or to Zion Lutheran Church.