Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
----Surnames: Ehlers, Short
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark, Co) 10/31/2018
American Legion to Honor Father, Son (LaVern & Kevin Ehlers - 2018)
Father, Son to be Recognized By Neillsville American Legion
LaVern “Butch” Ehlers, along with his son, Kevin, will be recognized by the American Legion Post 73, 6 Boon Boulevard, Neillsville on Nov. 5. (Submitted photo)
LaVern “Butch” Ehlers and his son Kevin will be recognized by the Neillsville Legion in November.
Butch was born in Marshfield. He attended grade school in Washburn and graduated from Neillsville High School in 1965.
After attending one semester of college at the University of Wisconsin Wood County-Marshfield, he joined the Navy in 1966. He had basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois.
Butch went to San Diego where he boarded the USS Summit County Landing Ship Tank 1146. The ship took a group of Marines and heavy trucks to Vietnam. Butch’s job was to stand guard in the engine room. The ship received ammunition and others supplies from Da Nang, a city in Vietnam. The ship would then be to transport the supplies to other Marine bases along the Vietnam coast.
After being discharged in 1968, Butch joined the National Guard in Neillsville and put in a year and half in there. Butch also worked as a U. S. Geological surveyor and a counselor at Sunburst Youth Home. He also worked for Gaier Construction and Erickson Construction.
In 1977, Butch bought the home dairy farm. Butch married his wife, Susan, in 1970. They have two sons, Kevin and Troy, and two grandsons.
Butch enjoys hunting and fishing. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Kevin Ehlers will be one of four veterans to be honored by the American Legion Post 73 on Nov. 5. (Submitted photo)
Kevin was born in Neillsville. He attended Neillsville Elementary School and graduated from Neillsville High School in 1989.
Kevin joined the Wisconsin National Guard in 1989. He had basic training and advanced training as a combat engineer at the U. S. Army Engineer Center at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
He received additional training as a 13B cannon crew member at Fort McCoy and 88M motor transport operator at Camp Douglas.
Kevin was a 62E Heavy equipment operator with the 32nd Engineer Company in Neillsville. He served as an 88M operator at Neillsville and an ammunition sergeant with Battery A, First Battalion, 120th Field Artillery in Marshfield.
Kevin was discharged in 2005. He has lived in the Neillsville area all of his life.
Kevin worked as a sales agronomist for 18 years and is now a district sales manager for WinField United.
Kevin married his wife Becky, in 1999. They have two sons, Chase and Caden.
He too enjoys hunting and fishing. He also enjoys spending time with friends and family.
The recognition will be Nov. 5 at the American Legion Post 73, 6 Boon Boulevard. Also recognized will be cousins: Tom and Wayne Short. There will be a social hour at 4;30 p.m. with a potluck at 5:30 p.m.
