Ernest "Ernie" Harold Eisenberg

Ernest “Ernie” Harold Eisenberg, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, passed away from a 4 year battle with Pancreatic Cancer on August 30th, 2026 at the age of 79 surrounded by his family.

Ernie lived a life filled with family, friendship, service, hard work, adventure, humor, and a genuine desire to help others.

Ernie served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, where he was an aircraft mechanic on Mohawk reconnaissance airplanes. Like many veterans, Ernie carried stories from his military service throughout his life, the most well known was his 16 hours story.

As part of his training, Ernie received what he jokingly described as 16 hours of hand-to-hand combat training before being sent off to serve. He never missed an opportunity to point out how ridiculous he thought it was that the Army apparently believed those 16 hours had fully prepared them. Ernie would say something similar to “I’ve had 16 hours of hand-to-hand combat training” anytime an opportunity presented itself.

Ernie became a private pilot when he was a teen and in 1981 he started his own business in the amusement industry, working with pinball machines and video games. It was a business that combined his mechanical abilities, problem-solving skills, and independence. He later sold his business and went to work for Advance Carter and ended his career in sales with Lieberman Companies. Whether it was an airplane, a pinball machine, a video game, a vehicle or a sailboat, Ernie had a gift for understanding how things worked—and figuring out how to fix and take care of them.

In the 1980s, Ernie discovered what would become one of the great passions of his life: sailing.

Ernie loved being on the water, racing, working on boats, and especially bringing old sailboats back to life and being a sailing instructor. He took great satisfaction in reconditioning sailboats, seeing potential in boats and using his skills to make them beautiful again. But perhaps the greatest gift sailing gave Ernie was friendship.

He made many lifelong friends through sailing and teaching sailing on White Bear Lake, and later at Shores of Leech Lake in Walker, Minnesota. For Ernie, Sailing offered something for outdoor enjoyment instead of working on things with motors under the hot sun and grew into decades of friendships, card games, gatherings, laughter, stories, and countless hours spent together both on and off the water.

As much as Ernie loved sailing, boats, cards, and working with his hands, family held a special place in his life. He especially treasured being a grandfather to Joseph and Ruth. Ernie was a generous grandfather in every sense of the word. He was generous not only with what he had,

but more importantly, with his time. He was a big part of their lives, spending time with them, helping them, supporting them, and making sure they knew how important they were to him.

That generosity extended well beyond his family. Ernie had a genuine passion for helping other people. He would give his time, his knowledge, his mechanical ability, or whatever else he could offer when somebody needed help, especially if it improved their safety. He enjoyed solving problems, fixing things, and being a help and resource to the people around him.

Those who knew Ernie will remember a man who was mechanically gifted, independent, adventurous, hardworking and generous. They will remember his stories and his humor. They will remember the boats he brought back to life, the card games, the sailing races, and the many friendships formed along the way.

His life took him from flying airplanes, maintaining reconnaissance airplanes in Vietnam, to building his own business, repairing pinball machines and video games, restoring sailboats, racing across Minnesota lakes, and becoming a husband, father, grandfather, and lifelong friend to many.

Ernie accomplished and experienced a great deal during his life. But his greatest legacy will be measured by the people whose lives are better because Ernie was part of them.

His family will remember the husband, father and grandfather who was always there for them. His grandchildren will remember a grandfather who was generous with both his time and his resources. His sailing friends will remember years together on the water and the card games, conversations, laughter, and companionship. And everyone will remember a man who simply enjoyed helping when someone needed help.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Georgeann; his son, Christopher; daughter-in-law, April; his beloved grandchildren, Joseph and Ruthie; and the many family members and friends who loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Irving and Marie Eisenberg.

Although Ernie’s passing leaves an enormous absence, the stories will continue. The boats, the card games, the friendships, the lessons, the laughter, and the memories will remain with those who knew and loved him.

Ernie will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2PM on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at Evans-Nordby Funeral Home, 34 2nd Street NE, Osseo. Visitation one hour prior to the service.