Ernest Arnold Tuttle was born on June 24, 1927, north of Aurelia, the son of Ernest Charles and Augusta Doris (Hasenwinkel) Tuttle. He attended Afton School #1 until the family moved and then attended Afton School #3. Ernie served in the US Army from October 6, 1950 until July 7, 1952, and the Army Reserve from July 8, 1952 until April 8, 1957. On September 21, 1952 Ernie married Florence Polzin at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Des Moines. They farmed outside of Aurelia. Ernie was the oldest lifetime member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia, having been both baptized, on August 7, 1927, and confirmed, in 1942, there. He served on various boards at the church over the years. He operated his “Grandpa’s Fix It” shop, enjoyed tinkering, his garden and flowers, and was known for growing huge Elephant Ears plants, and spending time with his family.

Ernie died Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, IA.

Preceding Ernie in death were his parents, four sisters; Verla Tuttle, Mildred Troester, Gladys Tuttle, and Lola Dilocker, two brothers; Marvin Tuttle and Gerald “Jerry” Tuttle, one brother-in-law, Dale Van Hemert, three sisters-in-law; Beverly Tuttle, LaVonne Tuttle, and Pat Tuttle, and one daughter-in-law, Sandy Tuttle.

Survivors include his wife Florence of Aurelia, four sons; Ernest W. and his wife Pam Tuttle of Olympia, WA, Jeff and his wife Rita Tuttle of Aurelia, Terry and his wife Mary Tuttle of Cherokee, and Tim Tuttle of Aurelia, eleven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters; Arleen Van Hemert of Johnston, IA, and Deloris and her husband William Rogers of Des Moines, IA, two brothers; Ervin “John” and his wife Elizabeth Tuttle of Cherokee, and Ron Tuttle of Holstein, one brother-in-law, Lowell Troester of Brighton, CO, one sister-in-law, Becky Tuttle of Cherokee, many nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.