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Ernest “Ernie” Jenderko
05/16/2021
Ernest “Ernie” Jenderko died at his home in Deland, Fla., on May 16th, 2021, at 1:12 a.m. surrounded by his children and his longtime companion, Jeanean Walton. He was 82.
Born in Philadelphia on Oct. 25th, 1938, to Margaret Oswald and Ernst Jenderko, he attended Olney High School and took up industrial arts. Upon graduation in 1956, Ernie started work at the Link Belt Company as a machinist. He served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves from 1958 to 1964.
In 1964, with the help of his father, Ernie started Jenn Manufacturing Company in the Philadelphia area, growing the business in Olney and Germantown. He later moved to Hatboro before finally building a 21,000-square-foot facility in Warminster. He was the leader in precision production machining, retiring in 1988. He is widowed to Lillian Jenderko. They wed in 1964 in Maryland and were married for 25 years.
Ernie was passionate about hot-rodding and car restoration, SSCA auto racing, bass fishing, and competitive 22-caliber bench-rest shooting. He won numerous awards in all these areas. He also loved fishing on his favorite lakes in Canada and spending time at his North Carolina summer home, tirelessly working on his 30-acre property.
Ernie is survived by his two younger brothers, Roy Jenderko and Lee Jenderko; his son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Jean Jenderko, and their two children, Lindsay and Nick; and his daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Hobart Rowland, and their daughter, Sophia. His wishes were to be cremated, and the memorial will be private. Donations can be made in his name to the Salvation Army.