Ernest William Barhorst, age 87, of Fortman Road, Fort Loramie, passed away peacefully of natural causes early Monday morning, August 5, 2024, at the Heritage Manor Nursing Center in Minster, Ohio.   He was born December 29, 1936, in Fort Loramie, Ohio, to the late Albert & Anna (Barlage) Barhorst. On February 7, 1959, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Burkettsville, Ernest married Joann (Keller) Barhorst who preceded him in death on September 30, 2014.

Surviving are four children: Karen & Steven (dec.) Sahle of Springfield, Cynthia & Ronald Borges of Minster, Nancy & Jeffrey Monnin of Russia and Gerald & Brenda Barhorst of St. Henry along with nine grandchildren: David & Gina Hurley, Andrew Borges, Lisa & Lee Marchal, Maria & Kyle Walterbusch, Douglas & Maeve Huber, Ryan & Emily Barhorst, Michaela & Dusty Brown, Derreck Barhorst, Jerod Barhorst and 12 great-grandchildren: Tyler, Carter, Maura and Keenan Hurley; Ava, Eli and Lucy Walterbusch; Rudy Huber; Noelle and Leo Barhorst, Weston and Makenna Brown; One brother, Carl & Eileen Barhorst of Fort Loramie as well as sisters-in-law & brothers-in-law: Imogene "Jean" Hart of St. Henry, Waveline Selhorst of Coldwater, Princes Keller of Celina and Luke & Jayne Keller of Burkettsville as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by five siblings; Alma & Orville Mangen, Albert & Martha Barhorst, Harold Barhorst, Norma & LeRoy Koverman, Joan & Vernon Vondenhuevel and brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law: John Hart, Herbert Selhorst, Hubert Keller and Raymond & Kay Keller.

In 1999, Mr. Barhorst retired from Stolle Machinery in Sidney where he had been employed 44 years. He was a life-long member of St. Michael Catholic Church. In his leisure, Ernie enjoyed woodworking, hunting & fishing, attending shooting matches and playing cards, especially Euchre.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 AM, Thursday, August 8, 2024, at St. Michael Church in Fort Loramie with Rev. Alex Biryomumeisho presiding. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery.

Family & friends may call Wednesday 3:00 to 7:00 PM and Thursday 9:00 to 10:00 AM at Gehret Funeral Home in Fort Loramie. Memorials may be made to Everheart Hospice or charities of choice.

Private condolences may be expressed at the gehretfuneralhome.com website.