Willard Ehlen

Willard John Ehlen, 91, of Red Wing, died Wednesday, Jun 7, 2006 at the Fairview Seminary Home in Red Wing. He was born on February 26, 1915 in Featherstone Township, Goodhue County to Gustav and Wilhelmina (Oelkers) Ehlen. He attended parochial schools at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hay Creek and rural school in Featherstone Township. On September 11, 1937 he married Bernice Fitschen. They lived in Zumbrota from 1938 to 1946 when they moved to Featherstone Township and farmed until moving to Red Wing in 1965. He drove truck for Art Mann and for 26 years worked at Red Wing Implement. He was a former member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hay Creek and Christ Lutheran Church in Zumbrota. Currently he was a member of St. Peter?s Lutheran Church in Goodhue and enjoyed making wooden toys, playing cards and dancing. Survivors include his wife, Bernice; two daughters, Ruth (Lonnie) Ringeisen and Jean (Curt) Callstrom all of Red Wing; nine grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and one sister, Dorothy Matthees of Zumbrota. He was preceded in death by one son, James in 2000. Funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter?s Lutheran Church in Goodhue with Rev. Randall Kuznicki officiating. Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Red Wing. Pallbearers will be Brad, Rob and Tom Ringeisen, Stanley Majerus, Dan Callstrom, Steve Schoonmaker, Jim Basa and Anthony Rebers. Honorary pallbearers will be LaVerne and Fred Fanslow and Herman Von Knobelsdorff. Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and at the church for one hour prior to the services.