Obituary
“Ernie” was born in Berlin, Germany, and came to the US as a child with his parents, growing up in Columbia, MO, and later settling in New York City. He attended Stuyvesant High School and City College of New York, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and MBA. He served in the U.S. Army as a translator during the Korean War.
He had a successful 35-year career with Sears, finishing his career as the senior buyer for children’s department for the entire company. His career and love of travel brought him to over 80 countries around the world.
In his spare time after retirement, Ernie enjoyed racquetball and was dedicated to volunteer work. For decades after retirement, he volunteered with the Executive Service Core, Highland Park Hospital, and Chicago Public Schools, a true exemplar of his core values and desire to give back to the community.
Throughout his success, Ernie’s greatest love was his family. He leaves behind the love of his life, Marianne, to whom he remained devoted for 67 years, always by each others’ side. He had two children, Anne and the late Paul.
He is survived by five grandchildren, Marc (Lauren) Cornfield, Benjamin (Lizzy) Cornfield, Jonathan (Jennifer) Cornfield, Alex (Graham) Timion, and Jeremy Kaufmann, and seven great-grandchildren, Ethan, Sara, Asher, Levi, Wren, June, and Louie.
Ernie loved his family, friends, diet coke, and Dewars. Ernie was truly loved, respected, and will be greatly missed.
Graveside service, Thursday 2 PM at Shalom Memorial Park, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. For information, including a link to view the service, shiva or to leave condolences: Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, www.shalommemorial.org or (847) 255-3520.
Service Information
Service : Thursday, August 18th at 2:00 pm
Service Location: Graveside Service -Shalom Memorial Park
Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 W. Rand RoadArlington Heights
Guest Book & Memories
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August 17th, 2022
Ernie and I have been friends for over 60 years. We met at Sears and our friendship bloomed when I joined Sears headquarters. My wife Lorel and I took many trips with Ernie and Marianne and shared many wonderful moments as our children grew and as we traveled together. We’ve been to the Amazon, Spain, Senegal, Morraco, Australia, New Zealand, countless Caribbean countries and finished many bottles of Dewars scotch together. That was on vacation. In our various Asian business trips when we happened to be in the same country at the same time, we did our best to locate the local inventory of Dewars as well. We never failed.
I have seen his sense of humor (which Ernie tried to hide from public view). I have seen him in his tuxedo as well as dressed up as Snow White (with lipstick). His disdain for denim jeans, especially on Anne in high school, is legendary. He was especially proud of his children and grandchildren. He was a great teacher to those coming up behind him at Sears and no one knew as much about foreign sourcing as Ernie. He earned the great respect of many, both within Sears and in the manufacturing communities around the globe that he worked with.
Lorel and I will forever cherish the memories of our times spent with Marianne and Ernie. Better friends are impossible to have. Eddie and Lorel Kelson
~Edward P Kelson
~friend, Sahuarita
August 16th, 2022
From the family
~Family of Ernst Kaufmann
~, Northbrook, IL
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