He grew up in McCook, NE, graduating from McCook High School. He then attended and graduated from McCook Community College. Ernie continued his education at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. While at the University he enlisted in the Navy. He served as a hospital corpsman, assigned to the U.S. Marine Corp during the Vietnam War. After returning from overseas service, he completed and earned a degree in Business Administration from UNL.
Ernie spent his professional career, 49 years, in the investment business in Lincoln. He was Senior Vice President/Investments and Portfolio Manager at Stifel for the past 9 years. For 15 years he was the Branch Manager of the Shearson office in Lincoln. During this time he also served on the American Express Foundation Board of Directors.
Ernie served as the President of the Richard P. Kimmel and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation. He held this position since the Foundations creation in 1988. In 2011, Ernie created the Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard Educational Foundation. The Foundation operates the Historic Kimmel Orchard in Nebraska City.
Ernie belonged to several organizations including University of Nebraska Foundation Board of Trustees, Kregel Windmill Factory Museum Board of Directors, Agriculture Builders of Nebraska, Inc., Honorary initiate of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Optimist Club of Lincoln, American Legion of Danbury, and member of First-Plymouth Congregational Church. Over the years Ernie received numerous recognitions and awards for both his professional work and civic involvement. In 2019, he was honored to receive the Distinguished NEBRASKAlander Award from the NEBRASKAlander Foundation.
He is survived by his sons: Leonard (Len) and his wife, Sara; Phillip; grandchildren Benjamin, Samuel, Maxim, Charla Ann, and Thomas; brother Dennis; sister Marilyn Klem and her husband, Ron; uncle Alfred (Butch) Jolly and his wife Barbara; aunt June Jolly; nieces, nephews, and numerous cousins.
Memorials to the Ernest Weyeneth Scholarship Fund at University of Nebraska Foundation, The Story Community Fund at Wyoming Community Foundation, or the Nebraska High School Rodeo Endowment Fund at Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation.
Funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at the Memorial United Methodist Church of McCook in McCook, NE. A visitation will be held at the church an hour prior to the service. A link to view the funeral service online will be available at mccookumc.com. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, from 4 to 6 pm at the Country Club of Lincoln.