Ernest L. Howard, 83, lifelong resident of La Crosse passed away Thursday, April 8, 2010 at Mulder Health Care Facility in West Salem under Gundersen Lutheran Hospice Care. He was born in La Crosse on May 28, 1926 to Lloyd Tracey and Anna (Mahlum) Howard. Ernest graduated from Logan High School in 1944 and served in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman in Okinawa with the Seabees during WWII. On June 19, 1948 he married Elizabeth Pertzsch in Onalaska.                

Ernest is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth of sixty-one years; a daughter, Sandra (Robert) Helm of McLean, VA; two sons, Sigurd (Katherine) Howard of Menomonie, WI and Douglas Howard of New Ulm, MN; two grandchildren, Justin Howard of Duluth, MN and Domonic Howard of Hudson, WI; and two great grandchildren, Heather and Chandler Howard.   

He was preceded in death by his parents; and stepfather, Everett Howard.           

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 12, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1010 Sill Street, La Crosse.  Family and friends may call at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. The Reverend Stephan Sandness will officiate and burial will be in Onalaska Cemetery. 

The Dickinson Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the American Legion Post 336, Gundersen Lutheran Foundation, or Trinity Lutheran Church