F. Gene Ernst

F. Gene Ernst, age 83 of Manhattan KS , died Thursday, September 5, 2013 at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community. Mr. Ernst was born November 26 , 1929 in Manhattan to Fred H. and Mildred F. Ernst and was a longtime Manhattan resident, with exceptions of 8 years in Louisiana and 5 years in Prairie Village KS. He spent each summer at his family log cabin outside Crested Butte, (Lake Irwin) Colorado since 1974. Gene was married to Marjorie P. Raymond in 1950 in Manhattan and divorced in 1968 . He then married Sandra B. Williams in 1967 in Independence MO and divorced in 1980. He served in the Kansas and Louisiana National Guards from 1950 - 1957. Ernst graduated from Manhattan High School; from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Architecture in December 1952 ; and the University of Washington with a Master of Architecture in 1972 . He was a practicing architect and a member Emeritus of the American Institute of Architects . He taught at Kansas State University from 1967 until retirement in 1992 as Professor Emeritus following 25 years of teaching. He attained his Professorship following service as Assistant Dean of the College of Architecture and Design from 1968 - 1970 and Head of the Department of Architecture from 1971-1974. He had been a practicing architect in Baton Rouge LA , 1953-1961, and a Principal Planner and Director of the Urban Renewal Agency in Kansas City KS from 1961-1967 when he returned to Manhattan to teaching planning and architecture . Gene traveled extensively with friends in Europe , Egypt , Jamaica . Guatemala and Paraguay , doing drawings and watercolors while along on these trips . He also found great pleasure after retirement in his artwork, summers in the Colorado mountains, and his faith journey. Mr. Ernst was a lifelong member and Elder of the First Christian Church of Manhattan. In addition to an architect he had active memberships in the Colombian Artists, Kansas Watercolor Society and the Manhattan Arts Center Watercolor Studio . His watercolors were shown in numerous galleries in Kansas and Colorado and owned by many art collectors. Ernst had served on numerous advisory boards including : Meadowlark Hills; the HOME Program ; Riley County Historical Society ; the Manhattan Urban Renewal Board; Flint hills Section of American Institute of Architects; Manhattan Preservation Alliance, Kansas Preservation Society; and Kansas Paraguay-Partners . Survivors include three sons Steven S. of Pocatello ID, Jack R. of Manhattan KS , and Thomas A of Thornton CO ; three grandsons ; two step-grandaughters ; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded by and infant sister in 1938; his Mother in 1981 ; his father in 2005 and a step mother in 2006 .