Obituary of Ernie Spaulding Sr.

Ernest Emerson Spaulding Sr. was born on December 12, 1942, to the union of Carl Spaulding and the former Mildred Bolster. The third of eleven children, Ernie grew up caring for his siblings and this is when his exceptional cooking skills were developed.

Though Ernie had very little formal education, his natural intelligence, common sense, and dedication brought him much success in life.  For forty-six years he was employed as a welder for Tecumseh Products.  He retired in 2004.

Ernie married Susan Althoff on August 9, 1996, and the two became a blended family. Ernie’s gift as a cook and baker continued to develop throughout his life.  During the first years of their marriage, Ernie shared his love for cooking, teaching Susan everything he knew.  He took great pride in using fresh ingredients from his own garden not only when cooking but also in canning. His skill and knowledge about preserving foods enabled Ernie to have fresh, homegrown vegetables year-round.  One of his specialty dishes was a beef and noodle creation that was out of this world.

Ernie was an avid outdoorsman enjoying fishing, deer hunting, and collecting guns. When the weather was nice, he could be found immersed in nature from sunrise to sunset, planting flowers and trees. He loved camping with his family and looked forward to summering each year.  Ernie was a die-hard Detroit Tiger’s fan and never missed watching a game during baseball season.

Ernest Emerson Spaulding Sr. age 80, passed away peacefully on Tuesday; April 25, 2023, at Blissfield Place in Blissfield, Michigan. His passing was preceded by his parents: Carl and Mildred; two sisters: Carol Ashley and Sharon Taylor; one brother: James Spaulding; and a grandson: Matthew Spaulding.

He leaves to cherish his memory, a loving wife of twenty-six years: Susan Spaulding; three children: Wanda (Troy) Plantier, Lisa (Derrick) Knight, and Ernest Spaulding Jr.; four grandchildren: Kyle, Justin (Andrea), Hannah (Dakota), and Madison; four great-grandchildren: Rowan, Elaina, Millicent, and Oliver; seven siblings: Brenda Spaulding, Barbara Armstrong, Lila Butts, Tom (Sheryl) Spaulding, Carl Spaulding, Rick Spaulding, and Richard (Amy) Spaulding; as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

Friends may gather from 11:00am until 1:00pm on Saturday; April 29, 2023, at Merkle Funeral Service; Dundee; 297 Tecumseh Street, Dundee, Michigan 48131 (734) 529-3156.  A Celebration of His Life will take place at 1:00pm also at Merkle with Pastor Jen Keifer officiating. Procession to Oak Grove Cemetery in Dundee, Michigan will immediately follow the service.

Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.