Ernest “Ernie” Pietrowski, 87 of Esko died Wednesday, August 1, 2012 in Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton. He was born March 22, 1925 in Springfield, Minn. to Robert and Ernestine Pietrowski. He grew up in Duluth and attended Denfeld High School. Ernie served in the Marine Corp during WWII. He fought in the battle at Guadalcanal and was later stationed in Okinawa. After the war ended, Ernie was stationed in China.

After his discharge from the Marine Corp, Ernie returned to Duluth. On June 22, 1946, he married Alice Barton. He worked for the City of Duluth as an equipment operator, US Steel Cement Plant as an cement packer, and later for Hart Motor Express as a truck driver, until retiring in 1981. He lived in Esko from 1978 until 2002. He also lived in Wrenshall and Cloquet for a few years before moving to Inter-Faith Care Center in 2007.

Ernie was in the Army National Guard for 18 years. He attended Northwoods United Methodist Church in Esko. He was a member of US Steel and Teamsters Unions, a lifetime member of the Cloquet VFW, and a former member of the American Legion. Ernie enjoyed eating. His favorite foods were Bismarcks, black licorice, black jellybeans, and ice cream.

Ernie was preceded in death by 4 sisters; 8 brothers; and his “buddy”, Missy Lu.

He will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 66, years, Alice; two daughters, Sue (Jerry) Stark and Sherry (Jim) Dunaisky both of Wrenshall; one son, Ron (Debbie) of Tucson, Arizona; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Funeral Services were held on Saturday, August 4, 2012 in Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St. in Cloquet. Burial was in Maple Grove Cemetery. Military Honors were accorded by the Army National Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association.