In loving memory of

Ernest A Root
March 21, 1920 - October 1, 2017

ERNEST ROOT
MUSCATINE, Iowa - Ernest A. Root, 97, of Muscatine, passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2017, at Premier Estates.
Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. There will be a private burial at the Rock Island National Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10 until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Gilda's Club.
Ernest was born on March 21, 1920, at Fort Andrews, in Hull, Massachusetts, the son of Ernest W. and Kathleen L Maurath Root. He married Margaret R. Belloni on May 30, 1943 in Rossville, Georgia. She preceded him in death on July 20, 1996.
He graduated Muscatine High School, Class of 1938. He later attended Army Tech School at Brook General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Ernest graduated with a 2 year Tech Degree from University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia. Then, from 1945 - 1946, he attended Wooster College in Wooster, Ohio.
Ernest enlisted in the US Army Medical Corp in August of 1941 where he proudly served his country as a Medic in WWII and received 5 Battle Stars and Department Citations before he was honorable discharged in September of 1945. Later, he served for 32 years at the US Army Reserve Center in Davenport, Iowa.
He was a Chief X-Ray Technician for 31 years, from 1954 - 1985, at Muscatine General Hospital. Ernest was a member of the St. Mathias Church, as well as, The Elks, American Legion, American Society of X-Ray Technology, and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. His hobbies included collecting antiques, crafts, wood ceramics, stained glass, refurbishing furniture, and traveling.
Ernest is survived by his niece Patricia Strickling and husband, Tom; nephew Marion Belloni; sister-in-law Evelyn Belloni, all of Ohio; close family friends, Carolyn and Dennis Riedel of Muscatine; Sarah and Rick Alwine and Ellie of Centreville, Virginia; Matthew Riedel, of Nashville, Tennessee; Steven and Megan Riedel; Harold and Judy Wilson, of Muscatine; Janelle and Cody DuSavage and Chiara Wilson, of Muscatine; and Andrew Wilson, of Muscatine.
He was preceded in death by both parents and his wife Margaret Root.

Tributes

DeLynn Price Davis wrote on Oct 5, 2017:

"My parents, Tom and Mary Price, and I were also close family friends who enjoyed many family get-togethers with "Uncle" Ernie and his wife, "Aunt" Maggie. Christmas was always a fun and festive occasion, for many years! He will be deeply missed... Love, DeLynn"