Ernest S. Iverson, 73, of Hiawatha, died peacefully at Amberwell Hiawatha Hospital, February 8, 2025 where he had been admitted hours earlier.

Ernie was born at Sabetha, Kansas, July 14, 1951 and was adopted by Emmett and Constance Iverson.  He grew up on the family dairy farm near Hamlin, Kansas with his brothers, Vern Iverson, Paul Bierly, and Mark Iverson, as well as a sister, Kathy Iverson.  Upon graduation from Hiawatha High School in 1969, Ernie joined the Navy and served our country for 8 years.  He always said that he joined the Navy to ‘see the world’, but the Navy put him in a submarine!!!!

Ernie was married and divorced twice.  With wife Sandra, he had a daughter, Elizabeth, and with wife Sharon, Ernie had three children:  Christopher, Jennifer, and Jeffrey.  In the early 1990’s, Ernie came back to the family farm and met Cathy, who he married on August 5, 1994.  At that time, he gained two step-daughters. Allison and Rachel, and he and Cathy adopted Makayla Neibling on May 20, 2002.

After Ernie’s 8 years of service in the Navy, he worked at a shipyard in San Diego, California many years.  He was a quality assurance worker building ships, and was very proud that he was involved in helping build the Exxon Valdez, as well as many other ships for the Navy.

When Ernie came back to live in Kansas, he worked at the Hiawatha Shutter Factory, then the Hamlin Coop, and Wilde Tools in Hiawatha for many years, until he had to quit when his health began to fail in July, 2007.

Even though Ernie had many heart and kidney issues, he still enjoyed trying to stay active in his Church.  He loved to tell his family and friends about Jesus,  and how God changed his life from his younger days.  Ernie was always inviting people to come to church, and he served in many capacities, as his health would allow, at Eternal Hope Worship Center.

Ernie is survived by his wife-Cathy, brother-Mark, sister-Kathy, children-Elizabeth, Christopher, Jennifer, and Jeffrey, step-daughters-Allison and Rachel, and adopted daughter-Makayla, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Ernie’s eternal life is planned for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2025 at the Eternal Hope Worship Center, Hiawatha with Pastor Rich Lehmkuhl officiating.

Military honors will be a courtesy of the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home Thursday and Friday to sign the register book.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Eternal Hope Worship Center, sent in care of the funeral home.

www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com