Ernest Leon Waletzko passed away into eternal life at 12:01 a.m. September 27, 2024. Ernest was born to Frances Pearl (Pawlowski) Waletzko and Jacob Anton Waletzko on June 29th,1939 on the family homestead in Norman Township, east of the town of Willow River. Ernie attended the one room country Messenger School and later the Willow River schools. He received the sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation in St Mary's Catholic Church where he served as an altar boy over the years.

Ernie joined the U.S. Army, was stationed in Germany, and honorably discharged in 1959. He began working at Horner Box Company in NE Minneapolis, and in that same year, he met Bonnie Ellen Hansen at a dance in Bruno, Mn. They married in September 16, 1961, in St. Bridget Catholic Church in Wilson, Wisconsin. Their children, Kenneth David, Katherine Lynn, and Linda Kay were all born in NE Minneapolis, and they each received the sacrament of Baptism in St. Clement Catholic Church. The family lived in NE Minneapolis, where Ernie worked as a diesel bus mechanic with the Twin City Transit Company.

When Ernie found employment at the Duluth Steel Plant, he moved his family north to Willow River, when baby Linda was just 2 weeks old. Ernie purchased the family homestead, when his parents wanted to move off the farm into Willow River.

After 5 years with the Steel Plant, Ernie became a full-time farmer with a small herd of milk cows and also raised heifers to sell. Throughout the years he enjoyed baling hay and grinding grain for his herd. He also took pleasure in cutting wood with his kids to heat the newly built house in 1974. He liked trucking rutabagas at harvest time to the warehouse in Askov and working at Rehbein's Sod Farm in Willow River for many years.

Ernie and Bonnie traveled to many art fairs and exhibits selling their Waletzko Pottery.

Ernie delighted in meeting and greeting many people through the years driving the shuttle bus for the Grand Casino in Hinckley. Keeping the lawn cut was a pleasure for Ernie and when he had more time for it, the yard became an acre…many acres!!

When Ernie and his wife moved off their Century Farm, they made a new home closer to town with the three farm cats and everyone adjusted quite well.

Ernie continued to enjoy Sunday drives, family and friends, Church, fresh coffee (especially at Joe Jitters in Moose Lake), and all the seasons of the year, eating warm bread out of the oven, and making cozy wool items with Bonnie.

Ernie is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Bonnie (Hansen) Waletzko; 3 children: Ken (Lisa) Waletzko of Willow River; Kathy (Dan) Tvedt of Askov, Linda (Tom) Peterson of Elizabeth, Colorado; two brothers: Frank (Alice) Waletzko; Ray (Esther) Waletzko; 5 sisters: Irene (Harold, deceased) Marihart; Gert (Bob) Lawrence; Aggie (John) Stevens; Dorie (Dale) Alberg; Carol (Ken) Burggraff; 14 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 11:00AM at St Mary's Catholic Church in Willow River, with Father Francis Kabiru officiating.  There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service.