TRAVERSE CITY — Ernest C. Mendenhall Sr., 84, passed away on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at Grand Traverse Pavilions, Birch Wing, after suffering for years with Alzheimer's disease.Ernie's loving and devoted wife, Beryl (Wages) Mendenhall, whom he married on June 7, 1952, in Detroit, survives; as well as sons, Ernest (Barbara) Mendenhall Jr. and Jeffery Mendenhall; and daughter, Karen (Mark) Weise. Also surviving are his six grandsons, Aaron and Kyle Mendenhall, Brandon, Zachary and Nicholas Weise, and Thomas Mendenhall.Ernie's mother and father, Edith and Will Mendenhall; as well as his brothers, Willard, Douglas, Dee, William, Theodore and Richard; and his sister, Patricia, preceded Ernie in death. A lively reunion in Heaven is surely taking place!Ernie served his country bravely and honorably in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific, where he piloted beach landing craft. After serving in the Navy, Ernie moved from Athens, Tenn., to Detroit in search of employment, where he worked for years as a factory welder. He was a past member of the Elks Club.During his life, Ernie loved to go fishing, tend to his lawn and watch almost any sport there was on TV. Ernie was also known to enjoy "puttering" around the house or in the garage. However, his biggest joy in life was spending time with and taking care of his wife and being with his family, or as he would say his "people". Ernie was a member of the Bethany Church of God in Sterling Heights, Mich.Ernie was a hard working, gentle and devoted man and will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew and/or loved him.A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2010, at noon, at Bethany Church of God, 11600 Clinton River Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313.Memorial donations can be directed to the Alzheimer's Association.The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.