Mr. Earnest Wayne “Ernie” Theetge, age 71, of Rising Sun, Indiana, entered this life on April 11, 1954 in Batesville, Indiana. He was the loving son of the late Frank Marion and Evie Edith (Rowe) Theetge. He was raised in Dearborn County, Indiana and was a 1972 graduate of Aurora High School. During his high school tenure, Ernie received the Harvey Green Award from football for most tackles. Ernie was united in marriage on August 22, 1981 to Joyce Marie Henry in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Ernie was a former equipment operator for the Dearborn County Highway Department for 20 years and for the Indiana State Highway Department for 15 years. He was baptized at Grants Creek Baptist Church in Patriot, Indiana. Ernie loved playing softball, riding his Harley Davidson, tinkering on cars, and playing horse shoes. Ernie was a passionate traveler and had visited 42 states and was determined to cross all 50 off his list – with only eight left when he passed. Ernie passed away at 4:39 p.m., Saturday, May 24, 2025, at his residence in Rising Sun, Indiana.
Ernie will be deeply missed by his wife of nearly 44 years, Joyce Marie (Henry) Theetge of Rising Sun, IN; his daughters and sons, Deanna Kagy of Fowler, IN, Michelle Theetge of Greendale, IN, Lisa Theetge of Greendale, IN, Ernie Theetge, II. of Williston, ND, Misty Witte of Hartford, IN, and Jeremy Theetge and his wife, Krista of Las Vegas, NV; his 14-grandchildren, Jedidiah, Samantha, Gunnar, Olivia, Ernie III., Aubree, Braxton, Logan, Maci, Sam, and Adele; his sisters, Evie Theetge of Connersville, IN, and Rosemary Jones of Covington, KY of Burlington, KY; his brothers, Frank Theetge of Connersville, IN, Bill Theetge of Moores Hill, IN, Eddie Theetge and his wife, Teresa of Center Square, IN, and Virgil Theetge and his wife, Jonnie of Rising Sun, IN; his mother-in-law, Betty Ann (Sigmon) Henry of Rising Sun, IN; his honorary brother and sister-in-law, Larry Stacy and Barb Rasler of Patriot, IN; his close brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Doug and Marea Henry of Aberdeen, IN, and Scott and Dora Henry of Aberdeen, IN; and his several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Marion Theetge, died June 15, 1993; his mother, Evie Edith (Rowe) Theetge, died January 22, 1996; and his fathers-in-law, Earnest Lee “Conway Twitty” Henry, Sr., died May 1, 2018 and James David “Jim” “Poodod” Henry, died June 8, 2018.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, by Rev. Wayne Daugherty, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043. Interment will follow in the Mount Carmel Cemetery, near Aberdeen, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Keeping Pace Cancer Fund c/o CFSCI. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com