Obit: Ehlert, Howard Charles (1922 - 1997)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Ehlert, Galoff, Hammel, Launspach, Mast, Gerl, Romanowski, Nowobielski, Kelling, Kulesa, Piater, Hoeck, Hart, Stewart

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) February 26, 1997

Ehlert, Howard Charles (26 November 1922 - 18 February 1997) With flag

Howard Charles Ehlert, age 74, of 300 N. Boardman St., Thorp, WI, passed away on Tuesday evening, February 18, 1997 at Victory Medical Center in Stanley, Wisconsin.

He was born on November 26, 1922 in Lowell, Wisconsin to Arthur and Gertrude (Galoff) Ehlert. He spent his childhood in the Neillsville area and moved to the Thorp area about 1939.  He married Beulah Launspach, the daughter of William and Clara (Hammel) Launspach, on August 22, 1944 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Gilman, WI.  They farmed in the Thorp area until 1955 when he went to work for Hurd Corporation in Medford, Wis.  In 1956 he went to work for the Thorp Telephone Company where he worked until his retirement in 1984.

Howard had served in the U. S. Army Tech #5 588 QM LDRY Co. April 1945 to June 1946, during World War II.  He was an active member of the Thorp American Legion Post #118.  He also was an avid deer hunter and enjoyed woodworking as a hobby.  He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stanley.

He is survived by his wife Beulah, of Thorp, WI; ten children: Judith (Loren) Mast of DelCity, Oklahoma; Paul (Pamm) Ehlert of Johnson Creek, WI; Richard (Keiko) Ehlert of Vesper, WI; Constance (Edward) Gerl of Marshfield, WI; Alan (Connie) Ehlert of Hixton, WI, Susan (Dennis) Romanowski of Medford, WI; William (Dawn) Ehlert of Thorp, WI; one brother, George (Lenore) Ehlert of Medford, WI; three sisters: Lorraine (William) Kelling of Highland Park, IL, Marie (Joseph) Kulesa of Thorp, WI, and Arline Piater of Medford, WI; 22 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by 3 sisters: Verna (Louis) Hoeck, Velma (Beryl) Hart and Eleanor (John) Kulesa, 1 brother Robert Ehlert and 1 grandson, Eric.

Funeral services were held on Friday, February 21, 1997 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stanley with Pastor William Stewart officiating.  Burial was in East Thorp Cemetery, Thorp, WI. Thorp American Legion post #118 conducted Military graveside rites.  The five sons and one grandson served as pallbearers.