Daniel "Dan" Alyn Ernst, 68, of Columbus, Nebraska passed away the morning of Friday, June 2, 2023 at Bryan West Medical Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska as the result of a long-running battle with chronic pain, heart failure, and diabetes.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, June 13, at Peace Lutheran Church with Rev. Cory Burma officiating and military honors by the American Legion Hartman Post 84. Visitation will be on Monday, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and will continue on Tuesday, from 9:30 AM until service time at the church. Memorials may be directed to Peace Lutheran Church.

Dan was born in Iowa May 2, 1955, and adopted at Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska by Duane and Alyce Ernst of Columbus, Nebraska. He grew up riding his bike to District 5 School and attending Peace Lutheran Church, where he was confirmed before graduating Columbus High School in 1973. Shortly after graduating, Dan fathered his son Alfred Ernst, and joined the Army where he served from 1974 to 1978 at the end of the Vietnam War. Dan later attended school at Suffield University where he earned his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering; he would go on to work for Boeing Manufacturing and Tuttles designing machines for several major companies.

On September 13, 1997, Dan married his wife Michelle K. Townsend-Ernst at Blue River Lodge in Crete, Nebraska where he shared a home with her and her daughter Brittany Townsend. In 1999, the couple brought their daughter Bethany into the world and, just four years later, moved back to the Ernst farm in Columbus to raise their family where they have lived ever since.

Dan was as child-like, creative spirit who took pride in his role as a father, a husband, and a friend. He loved to hunt with his son and fix old cars just as much as he loved to paint and write stories he would later draft into novels. He sang constantly and thought himself an outstanding comedian. He was fascinated with space spent much of his time drafting things he'd hope to build on papers and napkins.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents Duane M. Ernst and Alyce E. Ernst as well as his great-grandson Colt Blum.

Dan is survived by his wife, Michelle, his children Al, Bethany, and Brittany, his brother, Dana (Beth) Ernst, his three grandchildren, his four great-grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews.