Ernest (Ernie) Merton Corson, 102, Hesper, Iowa, passed away in his sleep on August 20, 2017, with his family at his side at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, Iowa.
Ernie was born on the Young family farm outside of Hesper on May 29, 1915, to Elmer Melvin and Emma (Young) Corson. His family lived in Hesper on the Skunk Farm and also resided in Prosper, Spring Grove, and Mabel, Minn. Ernie spent many summers on the family farm in Hesper township.
Ernie graduated from Mabel High School in 1935 and attended Minnesota Normal school — the only boy in his class — in Preston, Minn. He also attended Winona Teacher’s College. He taught for six years, 1st-8th grade at the South Fork, Pigtail, and Diamondback rural schools in Fillmore County, Minn.
Ernie enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941. He was deemed too old to fly planes at age 26, so he entered radio school and graduated two days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He served with the Army Airways Communication Services System (AACS) during WWII at locations throughout Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, including volunteering for the invasion of Attu. He was diverted to the nearby Island of Shemya and participated in the building of a top-secret Air Force base during extreme arctic conditions. The soldiers lived in very primitive conditions, with most living in only tents to protect them from windy and volatile weather. Because he oversaw the radio equipment, Ernie was given the first Quonset hut on the island. This base, located at the end of the Aleutian Island chain, was used to bomb the northern islands of Japan and to protect the western United States from another Japanese attack. The base was kept secret throughout the war. Ernie was selected to be a part of the invasion of Japan, but thankfully never had to report for that mission, as Japan surrendered.
After World War II, Ernie and his brother Norman opened a radio repair shop in Mabel. He also installed the first electrical wiring for his uncle Jones and aunt Charlotte on the Young family farm before reenlisting in the Air Force.
He married the love of his life, Charlotte Cleone Clink, November 7, 1946, in Great Falls, Mont. Two deployments to England soon followed, where they spent six years plus postings at many locations in the U.S. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Ernie retired in 1963 after over 20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. He and Charlotte bought the family farm in Hesper Township, where they raised their six children and enjoyed gardening just as his folks had when he was a child. Ernie became manager of the Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company (Mabel Coop). He used skills he had acquired as part of AACS and converted the above-ground party line telephone service to underground single party service, which made Mabel Coop the most modern telephone company in the area. Ernie continued to help on the family farm until the age of 93. Ernie and Charlotte were faithful members of the Hesper Lutheran Church. Ernie was a longtime Boy Scout Leader and active supporter of the North Winneshiek School. He also played dartball for many years! They spent their golden years sharing their love and Norwegian/Scottish heritage with their precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ernie and Charlotte had 66 glorious years together before her death in December 2012.
He was a lifelong member of the American Legion Post #299 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Mabel. Ernie participated in the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight to Washington, DC in April 2013.
Ernest is survived by his sister-in-law, Donna Clink, Ames, Iowa; brother-in-law Sterling (Jhan) Clink, Story City, Iowa; daughter-in-law Margaret Corson, Cedar Falls, Iowa; daughters Lynda Metzler, Richland, Mo., and Charlene Selbee, Decorah, Iowa; sons Doug Corson, Hesper; Dalton Corson, Ames; and Forrest (Barbara) Corson, Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren: Carolyn (Vance), Marisa (Matt), Jeffrey (Louisa), Christopher (Nadja), Timothy (Jen), Anthony, Vickie (Jon), Michael, Aerial (Jason), Elizabeth (Manuel), Lena (Teague), Rikki, and Cristine (Robert); great-grandchildren: Elena, Alyssa, Sophie, Margaret (Maggie), Hayden, Harper, Charley, Zahra, Dylan, Madison, Tyler, Anna, Jayson, Bradyn, Connor, Jordan, Max, Jordin, Christian, Damien, Toby, Trevor, Aidan, Keanu; great-great-grandson Adryann, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as countless friendships fostered during his lifetime.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte; parents, Melvin and Emma Corson; brothers Norman and Manford Corson, sisters-in-law Millie Corson, Anita Corson, Eleanor Kacher; brothers-in-law Clarence A. Clink Jr. and Stanley Kacher; son Dennis Merton Corson, and son-in-law David Metzler.
Visitation will take place at the Mengis Funeral Home, Mabel on Thursday, August 31, from 4-7 p.m. and an hour prior to the service. Service will be at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper on Friday, September 1 at 11:00 a.m., with a reception following the service, with Pastor Matt Larson officiating. Interment at the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery, Hesper, will immediately follow services.
The family suggest memorials to Hesper Lutheran Church, Hesper Lutheran Cemetery or Aase Haugen Senior Services in Ernie’s memory.
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