Gene W. Ehlert
December 30, 2010
Services for Gene W. Ehlert, 73, of West Des Moines will be at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 12th and Grand in West Des Moines. Visitation will be on Monday, January 3, 2011, from 4 to 7 p.m. and the funeral on Tuesday, January 4 at 11:00 a.m. with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Mr. Ehlert died December 30, 2010, of an apparent heart attack.
Born in Cushing, Iowa to William and Dorothy (Mohr) Ehlert, he was a graduate of Cushing High School and Iowa State University, and served in the United States Marine Corps.
He lived several years in Clear Lake, Iowa while working for Federal Land Bank in Mason City. On August 1, 1964, he married Sally Lynne Witmer. They lived in Mason City for four years while he was employed with The Prudential Insurance Co. making farm loans, before moving to West Des Moines in 1968. Two daughters were born to them, Nanette in 1968, and Nicole in 1970.
Mr. Ehlert continued with The Prudential until 1982, and later retired in 1995 from his position as a second vice-president in the Commercial Real Estate Division of Principal Financial Group. He was a member of St Mark Lutheran Church, Crosstrainers, Kiwanis Club of West Des Moines and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He was also ATO Board of Trustees chairman and ATO chapter advisor at Iowa State University, and an active member and past-president of the Kiwanis Club of West Des Moines. St. Mark activities had included Chancel Choir, Men’s Study Group, and teaching Club 56. Other volunteer activities were Special Olympics and The Salvation Army and he enjoyed biking and RAGBRAI, sailing, swimming, farming, and working with youth.
The Ehlerts also resided part-time at their summer home in Clear Lake, IA, where they treasured the joy of gathering with family and friends.
Survivors include his wife Sally, a daughter Nanette (Chris) Haugen of Alexandria, MN, a daughter Nicole (Bill) Baedke of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and a sister Joan Ludvigson of Holstein, IA. He dearly loved his five grandchildren, Hailey Haugen and Cole Haugen of Alexandria, MN, and Dylan Baedke, Ethan Baedke, and Morgan Baedke of Glen Ellyn, IL. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Park (Darla) Ludvigson, Ryan (Jenny) Ludvigson, Sally Ahern, Kellen (Kayla) Ludvigson, Keisha Ludvigson, and Kari Ludvigson.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. Mark Lutheran Church of West Des Moines; or to ATO Foundation and sent to the family for inclusion in a scholarship fund in honor of Gene’s commitment to the young men of ATO at Iowa State.
Online condolences may be made at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Babs and Bill Gardiner
01/01/2011
So sorry to hear about Gene. Our sincere condolences to all.
Remember all of your precious times with Gene - We have such great memeories of Gene and his marvelous work with Alpha Tau Omega. Remembering all of those super times helps pull you through the tough days ahead.
God Bless
Love from
Babs and Bill Gardiner
Chuck & Karen Gonzales
01/01/2011
Gene was such a kind and thoughtful guy; he will be missed by everyone who knew him. He always had a smile and word of greeting for everyone he met. He truly made the world a better place with him in it. We can be sure that God has him in His loving arms now. Our deepest sympathies to Sally and his family. May God sooth your hearts and strengthen you during this time of sorrow.
Rev. Beverly Wolff
01/01/2011
I want to express my sincere sympathy to you Sally and the girls, Nanette and Nicole. It is so hard to experience a sudden death llike this but you will cherish the recent Christmas that you were able to have together. May you find love, support and peace in the family that gathers as you share stories and memories of Gene. I had the privilege to know him and visit with him on several occasions because of his special sister, Joan. He was a precious gentleman, a gift from God who shared himself and blessed many people during his life on this earth.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
May the peace of God be with all of the family. Rev. Bev Wolff
Roger Ehlert
01/01/2011
Salley, Nanette, and Nicole, My heart goes out to you in your grieving. Gene showed me how to live life, how to live with heart. God bless you. Roger Ehlert
The Markey Family
12/31/2010
We are so very sorry for your loss. We are currently out of town and read the news on Facebook. Needless to say, we were devastated. Gene was one of the kindess, most honorable men our family has had the priveledge of knowing. He always had time for our children and the impact he had in their lives was tremendous! We give thanks to his family for sharing such a wonderful man with us. He will be greatly missed by many.
Leonard and Shirley Flachman
12/31/2010
Dear Ones,
We are so very sorry. Gene has been a huge blessing to our family. He was there for each of us in our times of need and celebration and he will be sorely missed. May God be with you.
Hank, Kathy, Molly, Sophie, and Libby Anderson
12/31/2010
Sally....we've lost one of the good guys. We are so saddened and shocked to hear of Gene's passing. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. I hope that you are provided comfort in this difficult time with the knowledge that so many people thought so highly of Gene.
Jodi Arends Suntken and Mona Arends
12/31/2010
Dear Sally, Nanette, Nicole, and the entire Ehlert and Ludvigson families...
We are SO sorry to hear about Gene's passing away! Please know that we are thinking of you all at this sad time! We send prayers and love to all of you. We will miss Gene and his welcoming smile and hugs every time we saw him. One of the last times I (Jodi) saw him, he was at Zion in Clear Lake attending a forum on the ELCA ministry controversy. I saw him and slipped into a chair beside him and we hugged each other. He whispered to me, "I just worry about what my Grandkids will experience in church 40 years from now, and that's why I am here..." He was thinking lovingly about their future that night, and it touched me enough that I remember those words as I write them tonight. Please know that your sweet Dad and Husband touched us all with his life lived so well. We hope good memories will be a great comfort now and in the hard days ahead. We will be lifting you all up in prayer. We hope the peace that passes all understanding guards your hearts and minds as you grieve. Mom and I will see you at the service Tues. in DM. If Chris and I can be of any help up here with the house in the MC/Clear Lake area with ANYTHING you need, please let us know. I have let the Molinsky's know about Gene and will get the details of the visitation and service to them as well. Love and Hugs to you all. In sympathy and friendship, Jodi and Mona
JoAnn James
12/31/2010
You have my sincere sympathy and will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Joni Jacobson
12/31/2010
Nanette, Chris and family-
We are praying for you at this sad time. May your time together with family and your dad's many friends bring comfort, healing and time to relive happy memories. God's peace to you all. Joni, Tom, Spencer, Elliot and Max Jacobson
Mary Ferree
12/31/2010
Dear Sally and Family -
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I will long remember the wonderful conversation that Gene and I had at the TRHS reunion this summer. It is a hard time for all but keep in your hearts the joyous memories of past events.
Love,
Mary Feerree
Sherryl Andrus
12/31/2010
Dear Sally, Nanette and Nicole, we have all lost a great friend and family member and you will feel it the most. Know that you are in our prayers during your grieving time. We all know he is where he wanted to be, at peace with the Lord. Love and blessings, Sherryl
John, Keilah, Payton, Alison Burris
12/31/2010
We were so saddened to learn of Gene's passing. He was a great person and made a huge impact on our children's Christian education. Payton and Alison looked forward to his weekly calls during Club 56. He truly cared for others and holds a special place in our hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and may you find peace during this difficult time. Gene will truly be missed.
The Burrises
Barb and Bill Herman
12/31/2010
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this tragic time. We have wonderful memories of Gene and the whole family. May God give you strength and good health.
Nola Harper
12/31/2010
I am so shocked and saddened to hear this news - prayers and thoughts are with you.......