Hans Ernest Munch"Ernie"Racine - Hans Ernest Munch, age 97, passed into peace with God's blessing to join his beloved wife Ruth (nee Fazen) in Heaven on Sunday, August 15, 2010. Ruth preceded his death in March, 1987.Ernie was born in Racine on November 13, 1912, son of Hans Silius and Anna Marie Munch, both Danish immigrants. Soon after, he became a big brother to two sisters, Ellen and Nancy. Ernie graduated from the Racine Military Academy as a boy and then matriculated to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana graduating with honors and a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1934. He married his sweetheart Ruth Eleanor Fazen in June, 1936 and raised three children with her over the next 51 years: Donald Munch (deceased 2002), Karen Munch-Kennedy (deceased 2008) and David Edward Munch. Ernie worked as an engineer and manufacturing supervisor for Nordberg Mfg in Milwaukee thru the war years. He was a First Lieutenant in the US Army but received an Honorable Discharge in 1942 to help with the war effort on the home front, developing gun mounts and heavy machinery for the military. After the war, he worked for Allis Chalmers Mfg Co. and then the JI Case Company in Racine in the early 50's. He spent two years in New Jersey with New York Ship Building Co in the late 50's, and then returned to J I Case to manage their Bettendorf, Iowa manufacturing plant. Ernie returned to Racine in 1963 to oversee manufacturing operations at Jacobson Manufacturing. He then rejoined J I Case in 1965 as plant manager of the main tractor works in Racine. He ultimately became Director of Manufacturing for all JI Case plants in the 1970's until his retirement in 1977. After that, he was retained by Case as a special manufacturing consultant for several years doing developmental analysis at Case / Tenneco expansion properties in Europe and South America. After his dearest Ruthie's death in 1987, Ernie moved into The Atrium retirement community in North Racine. There he met a fellow widower and soul-mate named Bea. He married Beatrice Schoenleben in 1990. They spent 17 years together until her passing in 2007. They enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends and even went on an Alaskan ocean cruise during their time together. Ernie's love of engineering and all things mechanical was his life-long passion. He helped family and friends with any and all requests for help in fixing things. He kept active in new technology all the way to the end and was an active iMac owner, internet surfer and avid e-mailer. He helped his fellow Atrium / Bay Pointe friends with their own computer needs and actively participated in events there, including showing movies every weekend to entertain his friends.Ernie is survived by his Sister, Nancy (Munch) Dursten; his youngest son David Edward Munch and Dave's children, Jakob Munch, Dave Munch Jr and Leah Munch; Granddaughters Christine Munch, Molly Kennedy and Kathleen Ann Kennedy-Klassen along with two great-grandchildren, Lucy Klassen and Frederick Klassen, from Kathleen and her husband Mark Klassen, There will be a memorial remembrance service and reception at 1pm on Saturday, August 21 at the Atrium in North Racine. Private interment will take place in Mound Cemetery.