Ernie was born in Balve Germany into a family of three sisters and later his brother Walter arrived. Ernie married Anneliese Wurzinger in Germany. Ernie arrived in Halifax aboard the MS Fairsea. He worked for a short while logging in Quebec and then Anneliese and his step-son Kurt Wurzinger joined him in 1952. They moved to Richmond BC. Ernie worked as a machinist at Dominion Steel for a short while and then worked at Truefit Millwork as a truck driver.
Ernie quit work to become blueberry farmers with Anneliese. They owned a 20 acre farm on Granville Street in Richmond. Ernie really enjoyed farming (and in later years gardening both food and flowers). On the farm there was always something needing some tinkering, the grandchildren coming for the summer to work on the farm, getting to tease, tell stories and jokes to his grandchildren and getting to teach them to drive the old farm tractor! Anneliese and Ernie would spend some winters in Hawaii while the blueberries rested.
Ernie eventually subdivided 5 lots off the farm and began a history of investing in real estate. In 1988, they sold the blueberry farm and moved to Royston to be closer to Kurt, Evelyn and the grandchildren.
Ernie never met a stranger. He was an honest, knowledgeable, charming, generous and very interesting man. He enjoyed rebuilding bicycles that he found at the dump or in scrap yards. He also was known for his ability to rebuild/fix lawnmowers. He also loved to win at the casino!
Ernie was a devoted husband, companion, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather who loved his family, his rye bread and salami, playing the button accordion and even riding his motorcycle into his 80s!
Ernie is predeceased by his wife Anneliese, step-son Kurt Wurzinger, daughter-in-law Evelyn, sisters Herta, Hilde and Ilse, and his companion Lucy Powell.
Ernie is survived and deeply missed by his brother Walter(Gerda) Neuleben of Chilliwack, niece Sonja and grandchildren Kurt (Lorna) Wurzinger of Courtenay, Charlene Loader of Port Alberni, Tom Wurzinger of Merville, and Lisa (Dale) Mangles of Port Alberni, 7 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren, nephew Henry and many more nieces and nephews along with his best friend and companion Millie Calnan who brought Ernie much joy in his last years.
A tea to celebrate Ernie Neuleben will be held at the OAP Hall, Cumberland on May 15th, 2016 at 1 p.m. Please bring your memories and stories!!