Ernest Quick

Ernie Quick was a hardworking, lovable man, who lived a long and full life, a life full of honest work and an even truer love for his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, and a farmer by trade, who possessed a green thumb and a truly golden heart.

Ernie's story began on a cool spring day in 1915, in the little farming town of Barryton, Michigan, near Big Rapids. Those were exciting times in this country, as the automobile and the airplane were beginning a sweeping change of our culture and the globe. The hardships of World War I were yet to reach our shores. On April 15, 1915, Bert and Carrie (Sturgis) Quick had more to celebrate than the automobile, however, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Ernest Lee Quick.

Ernie was one of the youngest of 10 children in the large family, and during those hard times, he was called upon to help raise his younger siblings. Ernie attended a little one-room schoolhouse in Barryton, but left school in the seventh grade to help his family. Ernie's schoolmates nicknamed him Andy because as they said the name Ernest didn't suit him.

As a child Ernie listened to music and played games. Baseball was his favorite game although he enjoyed horseshoes, hide-n-seek, football and basketball. He even had visions of becoming a professional baseball player but circumstances that were out of his control brought that desire to a screeching halt. As a child he had left school to obtain work to help support the family. His dad had fallen off a pickle car and broke his hip and leg and was crippled following the accident. Ernie's first job of sorting potatoes paid him five dollars per week. A typical day for him started early at five o'clock in the morning and ended around seven or eight o'clock at night.

Eventually, Ernie left the familiar confines of Mecosta County and headed downstate to find his fortune. He moved to Mattawan, where he also found the love of his life. One day Ernie went to a dance in nearby Lawrence, and met a beautiful young girl named Helen "Irene" Middleton. He was 23 and she was just 16, but the two quickly fell in love. They both loved to dance polkas and other dances, and just connected. On March 18, 1939, the two were married, beginning a wonderful life together.

It wasn't long before the bride and groom became mother and father, as well. Ernie and Irene were blessed with six wonderful children over the years, who filled their lives with such happiness. Margaret was born in 1941, Paul in '42, Pauline in '44, Mike in '46, Judy in '52, and Diane rounded out the happy family in 1953.

The family lived in Mattawan, where Ernie worked very hard in a variety of jobs to provide for them. He had worked as a gas station attendant, grocery store butcher, stocker, and register operator. He started working at Welch's, and began farming grapes, before going to Mattawan Consolidated Schools and St. John Bosco Church and School as a janitor. Finally he drove school bus in Mattawan for more than 15 years.

Ernie loved kids, and was a wonderful father. They did much together, from camping at Yankee Springs, to bowling, or playing cards. Ernie loved cards, especially canasta and 31. He also was a great practical joker, and took great pride in pulling pranks on anyone who was nearby every April Fool's Day.

Ernie was the true patriarch of the family, and would do anything for any of them. His home always had an open door for his family, and he and Irene helped raise her younger siblings, who lived in their home, too. Eventually, Ernie became a wonderful father-in-law, grandpa, and great-grandpa, who helped raise his grandsons Timmy and Joe, and great-grandson Dustin. Ernie was a terrific grandfather, who never missed one of the kids' events or games. He especially loved the holidays with his large family, from the grand Christmas gatherings at his home, to the good times they shared at Thanksgiving each year.

Later in life, Ernie had a place up north in White Cloud, where the Quick clan made so many memories together. He had a large hunting area there, as well as a huge garden, where he grew potatoes, apples, and also raised some chickens, too.

Once Ernie was reminiscing about his life and regretted not be able to graduate from school. He recalled the cost of some items notably five cent candy bars, his first Chevrolet that cost seventy-five dollars, and the first house he and Irene bought cost eight hundred dollars.

That was Ernie, though, always a rolling stone, always busy, with such a strong work ethic. Ernie was a true jack-of-all-trades, and he could fix just about anything. He had his pastimes, as well, of course. He loved to hunt, and sometimes he would go hunting in the Upper Peninsula with his buddies. Ernie loved the venison he'd bring home, which was always one of his favorite meals. He loved goulash, potato soup and chili, too. He was also a big sports fan, and also played pitcher for a number of fast-pitch softball teams over the years. And just like the day they met, Ernie and Irene loved to go dancing together, with the beer barrell polka always his favorite.

Ernie's life wasn't without its challenges, however. His daughter Maggie died suddenly of a heart attack in 1993, and his beloved Irene died on May 4, 1996, after a battle with cancer. Ernie battled his own health problems, too. He was diagnosed with a bone disease, and had his left leg amputated, and lost his left eye after a pipe accidentally hit him in the head. Ernie was a fighter, though, and bravely battled every hurdle he faced. Eventually, he began having difficulty swallowing, and required a feeding tube, with led to his downfall. Sadly, Ernie died at home with his family at his side on Sunday, December 10, 2006.

Ernie was a wonderful, hardworking man, who devoted his life to nurturing and growing everything around him, from the land he tilled, to the family he loved. He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, a farmer and friend to so many. Most of all, Ernie was a man with a green thumb, and a truly golden heart. He will be greatly missed.

Learn more about Ernest, view his Life Story Film and visit with his family and friends on Tuesday from 5:00-8:00 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home-Betzler & Thompson, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw (657-3870), where a service to honor and celebrate his life will be held on Wednesday, 11:00 AM with interment at Mt. EverRest Cemetery. Ernest retired from Mattawan Consolidated Schools as a custodian and bus driver. He also worked for St. John Bosco Church, Welch's and was a farmer. Ernest was preceded in death by his wife Irene Quick, his daughter Margaret Nash, brothers and sisters Jessie, Florence, Lula, Rhea, Josie, Floyd, George, Alvah "Mike", and Ray, a grandchild and 2 great grandchildren. Members of his family include his 6 children: Paul (Andrea) Quick of Holland, Pauline Williams of Mattawan, Alvah "Mike" (Pat) Quick of Delton, Judy (Alfredo) Bravo of Hartford, Diane Galvan and Pablo of Mattawan, Ruth Ann (Mike) McNees of Portage; 16 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren, a great great grandchild, several nieces and nephews, brother in law James "Curly" and Diana Middleton of Coloma and very special friend Ruth Kimble. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory or photo of Ernest, or sign the online guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Borgess ~ VNA Hospice.