Ernst Behr

On November 13, 2022, Ernst H. Behr completed his life journey. As Ernst took his final breaths, he was encircled by his three children who held hands with him and among one another. We pray that Ernst’s spirit joined that of his wife of over 55 years, Jill Louise Behr, in the spirit realm, and that they are now resting together in peace.

Ernst Rüdiger Franz Herbert Behr, son of Herbert and Emily Greg Behr, was born April 8, 1941 in Schöneberg Berlin, Germany. After World War II and at a tender age of 5, he and his mother left Germany and traveled for a month across the Atlantic Ocean on a ship, the SS Ernie Pyle, to Ellis Island. As an immigrant, his mother bravely pursued a new life and land of opportunity for them in America. As a strong team of two, they grew new roots and built their new home in Wayne, PA. Emily raised her son Ernst as a single mom and an impactful social worker. Growing up, Ernst was dedicated to his school studies, learned to play the piano and violin, played sports, trained as a Boy Scout, and was a loyal church goer.

For high school, Ernst attended boarding school at Northfield Mount Hermon in Mount Hermon, MA. Ernst then attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA and achieved his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology. During his school years, he played on the men’s football, ice hockey, and lacrosse teams, and was also a Lacrosse All-American. In August 1965, Ernst married his beautiful wife Jill who also grew up in Wayne, PA. Together, they adventured across the country to Salt Lake City, UT and lived there while he achieved his Master of Science degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology. After bringing their adoring first daughter Karine into the world, they moved to Denver, CO and settled there for more than 51 years. While living in Denver, they welcomed their next two children, Brant and Kristin. Rather than continuing his medical education path, Ernst shifted gears in Denver and achieved a third degree: his Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Finance at the University of Denver. Ernst’s career in sales, marketing, general management and consulting spanned many industries including housing development, civil construction, machinery, and soil and environmental remediation.

Ernst loved the outdoors, biking, walking his dogs, exercising, and the fresh Colorado air and sunshine. Ernst also loved to play tennis and ski with his family. He shared his passion for sports with all three of his children. Ernst was also a singer and performer, and in his adult life, he played the role of Captain Georg von Trapp at his church musical, the Sound of Music. Ernst and Jill always claimed that their greatest life achievements and greatest source of pride were raising their three children. Additionally, Ernst lovingly devoted the final years of his life caretaking for his sweetheart Jill as she declined and passed from an extremely rare neurodegenerative disease.

Ernst Herbert Behr is survived by his three treasured children: Karine Sommer, Brant Behr, and Kristin Otten; dedicated sons-in-law: Sandford Sommer and Benjamin Otten; loving daughter-in-law: Jamie Behr; his 8 cherished grandchildren: Cecilia, William, and Charles Sommer; Emily, Maxwell, and Eric Behr; and Bear and River Otten. He was preceded in death by his beautiful and loving wife Jill who passed away in January of this year, and his strong mother, Emily Behr.

A public memorial service, followed by reception, will be held at 3:30 p.m. on December 3, 2022 at Horan & McConaty, 5303 East County Line Road, Centennial, CO, 80122.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society ( https://www.lls.org/ways-to-give ) to support research and hopeful cure for blood cancer, with which Ernst was diagnosed a week prior to his passing.

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