January 5, 1942 - August 27, 2023
Ernest (Ernie) L. Lister, 81, of Loveland, CO, passed away August 27, 2023 surrounded by his family. Ernie was born in Denver on January 15, 1942 to Les and Kay Lister. He started life on a ranch in Black Forest where he rode at the front of the saddle nearly every day with his mom. Thus began his lifelong love of horses.
He spent his teens growing up in Lamar and getting into mischief with all his cousins. After he graduated from High School, he went to Lamar Junior College. It was about this time that Ernie met and married Kathy, and adopted Kathy’s daughter Kay. They moved to Fort Collins so that Ernie could go to Colorado State University. He held some odd jobs to support the family – including jockeying at the Loveland Race Track.
Before Ernie completed his degree, he quit college to raise his growing family – Dale was born in 1967, followed closely by Dawna in 1968. He worked hard at many jobs and many places – ranching, Simplot, Great Western, grocery store manager, janitorial manager, Wonder Bread truck driver and delivery person, just to name a few. He retired at age 62, but wasn’t idle for long – he worked for the Rockies as an usher for several years, baseball being one of his other passions. Ernie also took on work with Deer Track Traders, and it wasn’t long before the Deer Track’s family became his second family. He loved keeping busy with gardening, coin collecting, stamp collecting, collecting memorabilia, and even reading a bit of poetry.
Ernie loved his family. Even though he worked long and hard, he made time to spend with his children creating lots of memories. He loved going to family reunions and meeting up with all his cousins and talking about all the trouble they got into as kids. He helped his mom during the last years of her life and even joined her church where he was the social organizer. He also went on a few missions with the church down to South America and became great friends with the pastor. He always spoke fondly of his nephews and their children. Everywhere he went, he left fond memories with people. He had a quick wit and liked to joke with people. Ernie was someone you couldn’t forget and he will be deeply missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Les and Kay Lister. He is survived by his three children: Kay Sandoval (husband, Randy), Dale Lister (wife, Julie), Dawna Wellhauser; his six grand-children: Scott, Kyle, Makenna, Austin, Shanley, Kaylee; 4 great grandchildren; his sister: Sharlene Roebke; his two nephews: John Roebke (wife, Lynnece) and Eric Roebke (wife Mary); four grand-nieces and one grand-nephew: Geralynn, Gwendalynn, Leslie, Layla, and Seamus.
Celebration of Life Service
Thursday, September 14, 2023
10:00 AM
Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home & Crematory
1102 N. Lincoln Avenue
Loveland, CO 80537
