Ernest J. Ward

Ernest J. Ward, 51, of Sidney, son of Ernest J. Sr. and Delores (Sandoval) Ward went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sat., Nov. 2, 2013 at the Sidney Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Fri., Nov. 8th in the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Jim Gerhold and Bob Ogle officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ernie Ward Memorial Fund in care of American National Bank in Sidney to help with expenses.

You may view Ernie's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Ernie's care and funeral arrangements.

Ernest John Ward, the oldest of six siblings was born on Oct. 24, 1962 in Denver, Colo. While Ernie was in his teens, the family relocated to California before moving to Sidney in 1978. Ernie spent a brief time in Tuscon, Ariz. with his father before returning to Sidney and graduated from Sidney High School. He was a very talented musician starting his band "Destiny" in 1983, serving as lead guitarist and vocalist and later come out with the CD Ernie Ward "Burning Heart" in 1997. In 1983, he was united in marriage to Pamela Ely and five daughters were born to this union. Ernie also pursued a career in the Culinary Arts and worked at the Sidney Country Club, the Fort Sidney and other area restaurants and had been a partner with his mother running Ernie's Restaurant and Lounge. Ernie also had his own newspaper column titled The Chef's Corner, giving him the name Rock n Roll Chef. He has spent the last few years consulting various restaurants and creating The Chef's Blog, however most of his time has been spent caring for his grandchildren, teaching them about cooking, hunting, safety, fishing and many of his other hobbies.

Survivors include his mother: Delores Ward of Denver; (1) brother: Joe Ward of Denver; (4) sisters: Deneane Hyde of Mo., Dana Hays of Denver, Natalie of Pa. and Jennifer of Denver; (5) daughters: Amy Hernandez, Alecia Guerra and Andrea Ward of Sidney, Audrey Medina of Lodgepole and Braelynn of Gothenburg; (1) son: Carlos Campos of Sidney; (2) sons-in-law: Jose Hernandez and Theodore Medina of Sidney and (10) grandchildren all of Sidney.

Ernie was preceded in death by (1) daughter: Ashley Marie Ward, his father: Ernest J. Ward, Sr. and his grandparents.