Rev. Ernest A. Staaf Obituary (1931

Rev. Ernest A. Staaf, age 88, of Erie, was peacefully promoted to Glory on Friday, March 1, 2019 at the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, following a lengthy illness. He was born in Erie on February 26, 1931, son of the late Ernest and Hilder (Melquist) Staaf. Pastor Staaf was a U.S. Army veteran having served during the Korean War. He had been employed for 40 years by the former Hammermill Paper Co. prior to his retirement. Pastor had received a call to ministry while employed at Hammermill and completed his ministerial studies in 1979 as a graduate of Liberty Bible Institute. Pastor Staaf was the founding pastor of Corry Baptist Church in 1981. Following his tenure in Corry, he served as an evangelist until he was called to pastor Southside Baptist Church in Summit Twp. Pastor served at Southside for 18 years and it was there that he founded the Stable Print Ministry, which remained a source of satisfaction to him for many years. He had also previously served as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic with Brookside Volunteer Fire Dept. Pastor enjoyed camping with his family, traveling and building and flying radio-controlled model planes. He was a devoted family man and especially cherished the 66 years he spent as husband to his beloved wife, the late Ruth M. O'Connell Staaf. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Everett and Eric Staaf; one sister, Ethel Babo; one granddaughter, Lyndsey Roach; one great-granddaughter, Rebecca Williams and one son-in-law, Thomas Oliver. Survivors include his five children: Diane Oliver, Jeffrey Staaf (Susan), Cheryl Maynor (Kenneth), Joyce Roach (David) and Ernie Staaf (John Morral); 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. The Staaf Family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the loving and compassionate care that was extended to Pastor by the staff of the PA Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. Family and friends may call at the Harborcreek Baptist Church on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. until the time of the Funeral Service to be conducted there at 5:00 p.m. by his sons-in-law, Pastor David Roach and Col. Kenneth Maynor. Full military honors will be rendered by the American Legion, Carl Neff Post #571, following the service. Pastor Staaf will be privately laid to rest at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery, next to his wife, Ruth. Memorial contributions may be made to Harborcreek Baptist Church, 4719 Buffalo Rd., Erie, PA 16510. The Dusckas-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Harborcreek, is handling funeral arrangements.