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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Ernest Arnold

Ernest Arnold Fenske, Jr. Profile Photo

Fenske, Jr.

Nov 29, 1950 — Oct 1, 2017

Obituary

Ernest Arnold Fenske, Jr. was born on Nov. 29, 1950, the only child of Ernest Arnold Fenske, Sr. & Malinda Haferkamp Fenske. The Fenske family were truck farmers who homesteaded 166 acres of land on Telge Rd.
He was a lifelong resident of Tomball, attending Tomball schools and graduating from Tomball HS. He loved to tell stories about the years growing up and the escapades he and his friends had at school. He was a very active member of the FFA and was very proud of that. He attended Blinn College in Brenham, driving the college bus every day to Brenham and back to earn his tuition.
During his school years and after, Ernest worked with his parents on the farm, helping his father clear fields, taking care of the farm animals, and even helped build the brick home they built in 1969. Through the years, he worked for Harris County, running heavy equipment and mowing fields in the area. He never stopped loving heavy equipment and big trucks. Up until the day he died, he got a thrill out of watching big mowers and tractors, always critiquing the operator's level of experience.
When his father passed away, his mother wanted him close, so he opened a feed store on the farm and a UHaul dealership, from which he retired after 21 years of service.
Ernest (also known by cousins as "Jr", locals as "Bull", kids and grandkids as "Pops" and Janis as big E) fathered three sons: Ernest III, (known as Bullet or Trey) from his first marriage to Mitzi; and the twins: Keith and Kevin, in from his second marriage, to Lana. He loved to brag on all three of his boys. He was so proud of them and their accomplishments as men. They struggled through some hard times, but he never stopped telling anyone who would listen about his boys and grandchildren. Bullet married Danielle, they have a son, Braden, and a daughter, Jadynn. Keith married Nicole this summer and Kevin is single at this time.
Later in life, Ernest married his third wife, Janis. She came with a large, extended family and they all accepted Ernest as the character he was. He became close to Janis's daughter and two sons, as well as her sisters and brothers. He loved taking the grandchildren for a ride on the Kawasaki Mule and taking them fishing. Of course, they never ate the fish they caught, he preferred going to one of the local seafood restaurants.
He loved driving a new car, always wanting everything he purchased to be "top of the line", and going on trips. One of his favorite getaways was to Gatesville, TX to see his cousins. They visited the Hill Country, Austin, Waco and parts in between often. He loved the trips to northern Minnesota and to California, both by car. He really enjoyed all the corn fields and farms he saw on the drive through Iowa and Missouri. The California trip included a day spent in Mexico on the Baja peninsula, eating lobster in an oceanside café. A couple of trips to the Nashville area were memories he treasured.
Ernest loved to go out to eat, especially when it involved BBQ and fried chicken. He would drive all over to try out a new restaurant, especially after watching Diners, Drive Ins and Dives on the Food Network. He loved seafood, especially raw oysters and crawfish; and ALWAYS had to try the gumbo if it was on any menu. He loved George Strait, Allen Jackson, and Randy Travis. Although country music was his favorite, come Saturday nights you could always hear "Molly B's Polka Party" blasting from the house.
Ernest never met a stranger, he would talk to anybody about anything. If he got your phone number, you would be on his "list" to check in with almost daily with a call or a text. In the grocery store, doctor's office, neighbors, he made lots of friends, and still had friends in all the Tomball locals.
Ernest and Janis made a good team. They ran markets in one of the big barns on the farm and made lots of new friends. Together they made jellies, pickles, beets and all kinds of baked goods to sell. Even though he complained about all the work, he enjoyed socializing and sharing old stories of the area locals.
This spring brought changes to his life. After retiring from UHaul, the farm life proved too much and circumstances resulted in the family farm being sold. He bought a new house and started a new chapter in his life, living in a suburb. They started back pickling, canning and jelly making - in anticipation of doing lots of farmer's markets this fall. He had plans to have some improvements made to the property and was looking forward to the future. His passing was not only a shock, but leaves a huge hole in many hearts. He will be missed by many - good friends, family and acquaintances. He was an avid Astros fan, he very seldom missed a game, even to the extent of missing family gatherings at times.
He passed to his heavenly reward very gently doing his favorite thing, sitting in his recliner with his feet in the air, in his white t-shirt, his head on his John Deere pillow, covered up with his John Deere blanket. An empty carton of Blue Bell ice cream with a spoon was next to him and the Texans were on TV.
Survivors include:
Spouse: Janis Fenske
Sons: Ernest Fenske III (Bullet) and his wife Danielle; grandkids, Braden & Jadynn
Keith Fenske and his wife Nicole
Kevin Fenske

Stepchildren: Jennifer & Randy Joyner, Joe & Danielle Roberts, Tim & Alma Roberts; step-grandchildren, Sierra, Isaac, RJ, Morgan, Cameryn, Timothy, Brisa, Ozzie & Jillian
Step-great-grandchild: Ember

Many cousins, family & friends
Lifelong friends: Stuart Hale, Marvin Free

Friends are cordially invited to visit with the family from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 4, at Klein Funeral Home - Tomball, 1400 W. Main, Tomball, TX 77375. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, October 5, in the funeral home chapel followed by interment in Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Tomball.
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Funeral Services

Visitation

October
4

Wednesday

Klein Funeral Home

1400 West Main Street, Tomball, TX 77375

5:00 - 8:00 pm

Funeral Service

October
5

Thursday

Klein Funeral Home

1400 West Main Street, Tomball, TX 77375

Starts at 10:00 am

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