South Kortright, New York - SOUTH KORTRIGHT - Ernest Hanselman, 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, surrounded by his family.

Born in Arena in 1934, the son of Mary and Walter Hanselman, Ernie lived there through his youth and graduated from Andes Central School.

As a young man he worked on the Arena family farm, owned a milk hauling business and did other trucking jobs.

In 1954 their family was forced to move, as the Arena farm was part of the displacement of the communities for the building of the Pepacton Reservoir. As challenging as the forced move was, he worked in the construction of the Reservoir. It was at this time that the family purchased the South Kortright family farm, Windy Acres, where he lived the rest of his life.

In 1959 he married Harriett Hillriegel. Together they raised a family of 5, farmed the land and developed an outstanding herd of registered Brown Swiss cows.

Ernie was proud of his Swiss heritage and his love of the Brown Swiss cow celebrated that heritage. The Brown Swiss herd was dispersed in 1989, but he and Harriett continued to raise heifers and grow crops for several years.

A progressive farmer, he embraced several practices to improve the productivity and efficiency of his farm. In his desire to give other farmers the opportunity to purchase equipment to make their daily chores less physically demanding, he started a farm machinery business, Patz Sales and Service in 1966 that he, his wife and family operated for 25 years.

Family and working hard was first and foremost in Ernie's life and so that, in addition to his ingenuity and dedication to his fellow farmer, made him well respected in the farming community. His business gave him the opportunity to form many friendships that he has enjoyed as part of his rich life.

Ernie enjoyed any kind of machine, but he was partial to tractor pulling at the Delaware County Fair, restoring old equipment and old engines when he had down time.

Ernie looked forward to the times when all his family could gather. His children and his grandchildren enjoyed the Easter tradition of Grandpa hiding eggs for them to search for each year. He also enjoyed helping them learn about nature, the "old days," building and fixing things and operating farm equipment.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Harriet, of 62 years; five children, Ernest and Barbara of Bloomville, and their children Seth, Chelsea and Eric English, Dara and Michael Navarre, Paige and Josh Burroughs, Kale, Ladd, and Miquela; Barbara and James Robertson of Franklin, and their children Adam and Andrea Robertson, and Emily and David Mason; Carl and Wendy of East Meredith and their children, Amanda and Paul Moller, Jeremy and Rosie Hanselman and Rachel and Alex Tancredi; Allan of Salem, Oregon, and Anita Peregrim of Albany. Great-grandchildren include Carter, Madalyn, and Corbin Burroughs, Hope and Nolan Robertson, and George Mason, and Olivia and Seraphina Moller and Kaiden and Tallulah Hanselman.

His son-in-law, Timothy Peregrim, passed away earlier this year.

He is also survived by his sister, Louise; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

He was predeceased by his siblings, Walter, Hilda, Violet and Rose Marie.

Visitation, at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 9, at South Kortright Community Church, will be followed by a memorial service at noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the South Kortright Community Church, 10710 County Highway 18, South Kortright, NY 13842 or Delaware County Agriculture Society, P.O. Box 334, Walton, NY 13856.

Share online condolences with the Hanselman family at www.macarthurfh.com.