Ernest R. Linsmaier

Ernest Robert Linsmaier, age 90, of Alliance, passed away at 5:45 p.m. Good Friday, March 25, 2016, at Community Care Center.
He was born July 11, 1925, in Alliance, Ohio, to Frank and Mary (Gorfey) Linsmaier and was a lifelong Alliance resident.
Ernest was a 1946 graduate of Alliance High School and received his Bachelors from Mount Union College and his Masters from Kent State University. He was a teacher with Alliance City Schools, retiring after 35 years, a real estate agent for 12 years, and was Alliance Councilman at Large from 1962 to 1974.
He was a charter member of Regina Coeli Catholic Church, serving on the church council.
A veteran of the United States Marine Corp., he served in Bougainville, Tinian, and Iwo Jima as an Aerial Gunner in World War II, receiving a Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. He was interviewed by Ed Sullivan upon his return from Iwo Jima.
Ernest was a member of the Elks, and had been a past member of the Alliance Civic Improvement Committee, Eastern Stark County Cancer Crusade Chairman and a life member of Ohio Retired Teachers Organization. He was an Outstanding New JC from 1956-1957, first chairman of the Miss Alliance pageant, and ran for State Representative of Ohio and Mayor of Alliance.
He loved God, his family, his country, and the United States Marine Corps. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, traveling, eating out and being with friends. He especially enjoyed being a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy (Wearstler) Linsmaier of Alliance whom he married February 4, 1949; daughter, Kristine (Michael) Fager of Danbury, Connecticut; son, Douglas (Janet) Linsmaier of Rittman, Ohio; grandson, Christopher (Tara) Vargo of Alliance; two great-granddaughters, Melanie Vargo and Cassidy Vargo, both of Alliance; step-grandson, Brian (Bliss) Fager of New York; step-great-grandson, Matthew (Emily) Harvey of Alliance; two step-great-granddaughters, Ella Lynn Fager and Adelyn Kristine Fager, both of New York; and all his beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Margaret Linsmaier; and brothers, Carl Linsmaier and Emil Linsmaier.
A private memorial service will be held at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 9, 2016. Interment with military honors will be held at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorial contributions to be made to Regina Coeli-St Joseph Catholic School 663 Fernwood Blvd, Alliance, OH 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, Ohio, 44601.

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