Agnes Eleanor Ernst

Agnes Eleanor Ernst, 93, died at her home in Oxford, MD, on January 16, 2005. She was born June 21, 1911, in Winona, MN, the second of three daughters, to Gerhard Augustus Ernst and Emma von Rohr. The Ernst and von Rohr families represented a long succession of Lutheran ministers who emigrated from Germany in the 1870''s to escape the military regime of Otto von Bismarck, and furthered the foundations of the Lutheran church in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Ernst family strongly valued education of its daughters, as well as its sons. Agnes received her post secondary education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where her aunt, Adolphine Ernst, was a unique female professor in the German department. Agnes majored in physical education, and excelled in a number of sports. In 1937, Agnes suffered serious physical problems and went east for treatment. She was asked by the family of her paternal uncle, Charles Ernst, and her maternal aunt, Ella von Rohr Ernst, to support her cousin, Louise Ernst Glass, upon the loss of her husband, Arthur. Agnes became the right hand assistant of Louise and remained her companion and support until Louise''s death in Oxford, Maryland, in 1991. Agnes helped to raise Louise''s gifted children, Michael and Rosemary. During the more than fifty years they spent together, the two women traveled extensively, skiing in Austria and Utah, touring around the world and into relatively unexplored areas of South America and Africa. They enjoyed food, wine, art and culture, and were constantly on the go, as their health permitted. They lived for years in Montclair, New Jersey, and Nantucket Island before they established their final residence in the early 1970''s at Oxford, Maryland, where they loved the life of the Chesapeake Bay, their front yard. In her later years, Agnes became increasingly proficient in her piano playing, especially music of the French Impressionists and Bach. She loved her poodles, the most recent of which, Schatzi, was with her to the end and mourns her death. Agnes was an ardent golfer at the Talbot Country Club and prior to that at the Sankaty Head Golf Course in Nantucket. She remained a dedicated bowler into her 90''s. Agnes was a person who enjoyed the daily pleasures of life. Her sisters, Margaret Ernst (Gilbert) Thiele and Catherine ("Kitty") Ernst Landgrebe, benefited from her constant concern and care. She leaves her sister, Catherine Landgrebe, of Easton, Maryland; nieces Charlotte Thiele (Paul) Zietlow, of Bloomington, Indiana, and Harriet Thiele (Ray) Statz, of Waunakee, Wisconsin; niece Monica Landgrebe (Martin) Sweidel, of Rowlett, Texas, and nephew, Stephen Landgrebe, of Pacific, Missouri; Rosemary Glass (Roger) Baldwin of Easton, Maryland; and Geoffrey (Sarah) Glass of Tacoma, Washington, James (Cathy) Glass of Cardiff, California, and Michael Glass of Centerville, Utah; and their children and grandchildren. She also leaves her dedicated helpers, Charles and Lottie Camper; other caretakers including Susie Greene, Lydia Johnson, Rosemary Murray; and many devoted friends. Agnes will be remembered for her love of life, high standards, great energy, and quiet generosity. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2005, at 3:00 pm, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Easton, Maryland. Contributions in memory of Agnes may be made to the Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, Maryland 21601.