Ernest (Ernie) Prince went home to be with the Lord, on Thursday, March 19 at the age of 92, having lived a full and blessed life. He began his day with his wife, Judy, at his home in West Olive and by evening was in his Heavenly home. His passing was peaceful and he was surrounded by his loving family.
He was born Ernest Prins in Doon, Iowa in 1933 to Henry and Henrietta Prins. He and his family moved to Holland, Michigan in 1935. The family changed the spelling of their surname to Prince after the 1930 Federal Census. Ernie graduated from Holland High, served three terms with the Army National Guard in Company D (1950-1960), and received honorable discharges at the end of each term, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant.
He worked in the hull department building boats for Chris Craft. He then worked in industrial construction which included the power plants on the shores of Lake Michigan, one of which is the JH Campbell plant on Pigeon Lake. Upon retirement, he represented Pine Creek CRC and South Olive CRC as a volunteer with World Renew Disaster Response Services (formerly CRWRC). For more than 10 years, Ernie traveled from coast to coast assisting with disaster response as a construction supervisor.
As an avid sportsman, he played ball with Main Auto and coached the Pine Creek CRC women’s softball team which the whole family was very involved in. He loved fishing, hunting, and being outdoors and shared that love with his wife, daughters, and extended family. Perhaps the thing Ernie and Judy are best known for is their love of fishing. For years, if you wanted to know where the fish were biting, you hailed the “Princess” when out on Lake Michigan. American Tackle and Gold Coast Outfitters tapped into Ernie’s skills for several years, as he delivered the morning fishing report on WHTC. If you knew them well, you surely have fond memories of fish fries and sharing a “toddy” with Ernie and Judy, not only in Michigan, but also at happy hours in Anna Maria, Florida and Rockport, Texas.
Ernie is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Judy (Otten) Prince, and their four daughters: Jill (Will) Wallaker, Jackie (Dan) Vanden Berg, Jenn (Rick) Fett, Jessica (Pieter) Kiwiet; ten grandchildren: Ian Wallaker, Meg Wallaker (Josh Garrett), MJ Wallaker, Blake (Michaela) Vanden Berg, Hailey (Jon) Loeper, Dylan Fett, Ani Fett, Joshua Kiwiet-Pantaleoni, Jordi Rivera Prince (Daniel Turner), Sydney Rivera Prince; and five great grandchildren. One of 13 siblings, Ernie is survived by sister: Judith DeGraaf and sister-in-law Ruby (Jerry) Prince.
He is preceded in death by eleven of his siblings: Johanna (Ann) Reyes, John Prince, Joseph Prince, Henrietta (Harriet) Ter Haar Dalman, Jeanette (Janet) Ter Haar, Alice Tubergen, Richard Prince, Henry (Chick) Prince, Frances Baumann, Ralph Prince, and Gerald (Jerry) Prince.
A service will be held for Ernie on Saturday, April 25 at 3 pm, at Dykstra Northwood Chapel. Following the service, the family will celebrate Ernie’s life and share memories with friends from 4 – 6 pm. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to World Renew Disaster Response Services.
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