Erna Schindler

Jan 14, 1927 -

Apr 10, 2020

Erna Schindler, 93, passed peacefully on April 10, 2020, of natural causes in Anchorage, Alaska. Erna was born in Coahuila, Mexico. Her family settled in Maguarichic, Mexico, where her father worked as a miner.

Erna loved to share her mining camp adventures. She climbed the surrounding mountains, learned to become an excellent cook from her mother and looked forward to Sunday night chaperoned dances. Erna later worked as a bookkeeper for her father, which also included passing out dynamite to the miners.

In the summer of 1954, she met her husband, John Schindler. John was attending Michigan State at the time and his studies took him and his professors to the mine. Although John knew little Spanish and Erna little English, they corresponded. The following summer, John returned and asked Erna's parents for her hand in marriage. They wed in El Paso, Texas, in August 1955 and were married for 59 years.

Their married life took them to Barrow, Alaska, for 11 years, from 1960 to 1971. In 1971, they left Barrow with their two daughters and bought a house in Anchorage which became their forever home.

Erna was predeceased by her parents; her two sisters; and her husband, John. She leaves behind daughters, Lynn Schindler and Laura Burns, both of Anchorage; grandson, Warren "Hank" Henry; granddaughter, Rebecca Gysler; great-granddaughter, Chloe Henry; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She also leaves many good friends, some of whom called her Aunt Erna. Her warm laugh and bright smile will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her. er earthly body was laid to rest at Anchorage Memorial Park.