Ernest Herman Kanning

Ernest Herman Kanning III, age 68, of Burnsville, on December 29, 2001. Born September 16, 1933, in Painesdale, Michigan, he was the son of the Rev. Ernest and Edna (Heuer) Kanning. Mr. Kanning was a linguist and translator. From childhood on, he read voraciously and learned numerous languages. Until shortly before his death, he completed the Minneapolis Star and NY Times crossword puzzles in ink. He enjoyed writing to the editor of the Star expounding little known linguistic derivations, usage and histories. After attending the University of Chicago, he received a B.A. from Valparaiso (Indiana) University and an M.S. in mathematics from the Ohio State University. He was a systems analyst for the Lockheed Missiles Polaris program; Remington Rand Univac Thor, Delta, and Titan space programs; and for Sperry Univac in Scandinavia and Germany, as well as in the U.S. After his retirement, he drove a school bus for Burnsville schools. An avid cook, he took pride in baking pies in abundance for family gatherings. He was a co-editor of the calendar ``Finland: Vision and Verse of a Land and its People.'' Mr. Kanning translated for many international corporations. Besides technical translating, he was skilled in translating poetry and literature. He was an active contributor to the dictionary of English etymology soon to be published by University of MN Professor of Germanic Philology Anatoly Liberman. Recently Mr. Kanning began a study of New Testament Greek. Mr. Kanning was married to Liisa Andberg, now Ojala, who, with her husband Reino, has remained a faithful friend. He is survived by sons, Ernest IV (Susanne) Kanning of Koenigs Wusterhausen (Berlin), Germany; Timo, (Darla) Kanning, Shoreview, MN; and Markus Kanning, Eagan, MN; grandchildren, Martin, Elizabeth, Theo, Emma, and Nicholas; sisters, Eunice Kanning (Walt Heimerdinger), Minneapolis, MN, and Elynor Kimmel, Stillwater, MN; brother, Eugene (Ruth) Kanning, Wauwatosa, WI; 9 nieces & nephews; and numerous friends. His faith in Jesus Christ was a source of strength throughout his battle with lung cancer. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, 1930 Diffley Road, Eagan, MN, where a memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 2, 11:00 AM. Memorials preferred to Christ Lutheran Church or donor's choice. The family is grateful to the staff of Methodist Hospital Hospice for their generous care and support.

Published on January 2, 2002