John William Ernst

John William (Bill) Ernst, 91, of Carmel passed away January 4, 2026. He was born on September 18, 1934, in Washington, Missouri.

Bill was married to the love of his life, Rose Ann, whom he met at an open house in 1952 when she was a junior in high school. They were married on July 3, 1955, having celebrated 70 years of marriage on July 3, 2025.

Mr. Ernst was a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in 1952. He was a fifty plus year veteran of the Commercial Investment Real Estate Industry, having started his real estate career with the Justus Companies in 1966. Among some of the developments he was instrumental in developing were the Indianapolis Marriott Hotel-East, several Indianapolis small office buildings and shopping centers and commercial retail and office developments as well as a multitude of new auto agencies throughout Indiana. He was a licensed broker in Indiana and Florida.

As an employee with the Justus Companies from 1966 until 1973, Bill served as Executive Vice President. He then joined an International Merchant Real Estate Development firm from 1973 until 1976 and established offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida. Upon the dissolution of that affiliation that then became the catalyst for his forming a Commercial Real Estate Development firm in 1976, known as Ernst / Eaton & Associates. During that period, he developed and managed many small neighborhood shopping centers in Indianapolis, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Columbia City, Frankfort and Sheridan, Indiana. Mr. Ernst sold his interest in that firm in 1984, which is now known as the Lauth Property Group. He then joined Lou Jenn (famous for the Jenn Air Kitchen Appliances) as a consultant along with Dr. William Haeberle (Professor of Entrepreneurship at I.U.), and Art Decio (President of Skyline Homes) to assist in developing and marketing Mr. Jenn's newly patented Atrium Housing concept. When Lou passed away, the company was dissolved. Mr. Ernst then returned to the Commercial Real Estate arena and formed a specialty consulting firm in the Investment Real Estate industry. He has held real estate consulting positions with major financial institutions, affordable housing firms, and acting in the capacity of consultant on the closure and master planning of Ft. Benjamin Harrison, a U.S. Army base consisting of over 550 acres for redevelopment, among his other accomplishments. He rejoined the Justus Companies under contract from late 1997 until 2002 as a consultant.

Bill and his wife Rose Ann, then moved to Naples, Florida in 2003 to handle Real Estate Investments for a group of private investors. In 2004 he affiliated with C.B. Richard Ellis Company as Director of Asset Services in the Naples/Ft. Myers area. He and his wife decided to move back to Indiana to be with family in 2006. He was then recruited by Huntington National Bank as Vice President of Business Development for the Commercial Real Estate sector, where he enjoyed that position until the merger with Sky Bank. He then formed Charter Commercial Realty Group and specialized in Commercial Real Estate Investments, Brokerage, Consulting, Asset and Property ManagementServices for the Commercial Real Estate Industry. Mr. Ernst was a past member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), The Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA), a member of the National Association of Realtors, (NAR), He is a Charter Member of The Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors, (ICBR), and a member of The Institute of Real Estate Management, (IREM). He was named to "Who's Who" in Real Estate in 1983, Appointed by Mayor William H. Hudnut as a member and past Chairman of the Design Review Committee for the City of Indianapolis, named by Mayor Ted Johnson, as Interim Director of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Carmel, Indiana. He was one of the original members of the committee to form the Hamilton County Alliance and has garnered many awards for excellence in development by the Cities of Indianapolis, Carmel and Noblesville for his role in commercial and investment real estate development. Mr. Ernst was a two-time past member of the Board of Trustees for Carmel United Methodist Church and was appointed by Mayor Dorothy Hancock of Carmel as a board member to form the Carmel/Clay Community Foundation, which later merged and became the Legacy Fund. He also served on the board and later became president of the Carmel-Clay Educational Foundation.

He served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1952 until 1960. Mr. Ernst headed an effort to raise funds for the reconstruction of the Flowing Well in Carmel, Indiana as a tribute and memorial to his friend Gilbert F. Kett who passed away in January of 2009, and who single handedly rescued the Flowing Well from extinction back in 1984.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his stepfather, Edwin Brockway; brother, Robert L. Ernst; as well as both paternal and maternal grandparents.

He is survived by his beloved wife Rose Ann Ernst; 3 wonderful children, Kimberly Ann White (Chris) Lisa Sue Breitwieser (Tom) and Christopher William Ernst (Heather); 4 grandsons, Sean White (Kaleena), Scott White (Elizabeth), William Ernst, and Tommy Baldwin (Mia); one granddaughter, Ashley Ernst; 4 great-granddaughters; and 5 great-grandsons all within the Metro Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, and Whitestown areas; sister, Katherine Sue West (Larry) of Florida; brother, Richard D Ernst (Becky) of Dallas, Texas.

Family and friends will gather on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 2-4 pm in Carmel United Methodist Church, where the funeral service will begin at 4 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Carmel United Methodist Church Music Department.

Bussell Family Funerals is privileged to assist the family in arrangements.