In January 1980, at the age of 53, he died of multiple sclerosis, in Klein-Pöchlarn, Lower Austria.
His death occurred on the same date that Matthias Sindelar died 41 years before.

A friendly tournament was played on July 1981 in homage to Ernst Ocwirk at Wiener Stadion.
 The participants were FK Austria Wien, SK Rapid Wien, Ferencvárosi TC and Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich won the tournament.
In January 1980, at the age of 53, he died of multiple sclerosis, in Klein-Pöchlarn, Lower Austria. His death occurred on the same date that Matthias Sindelar died 41 years before.
A friendly tournament was played on July 1981 in homage to Ernst Ocwirk at Wiener Stadion.  The participants were FK Austria Wien, SK Rapid Wien, Ferencvárosi TC and Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich won the tournament.
Ernst Ocwirk