Carl E. Ehlert
Carl Ehlert passed away on April 11, 2009 in his home and with his children at his bedside. Carl moved to Polson, Montana from Vandalia, Illinois in 2004 to be near his children: Anita and Barry Hansen in Polson, and Steven and Vicki Ehlert of Spokane. Carl was born in Schleswig, Iowa in 1922. He married Elizabeth Joan Davies in 1945, after serving in WWII as a U.S. Navy airman/mechanic. He earned a bachelors degree on the GI Bill at Iowa State College and went on to teach High School Agriculture in Iowa until 1954. In his next career he sold fertilizer for Swift & Company in Litchfield, Illinois. He returned to school in 1974 and earned a Masters Degree at Southern Illinois University in vocational rehabilitation. That degree landed him in the Vandalia State Penitentiary as an instructor until 1987. Carl remained active throughout his life, and volunteered often to help in varied areas such as the School Board, Boy Scouts, his church, rural water development, and most recently at 82, manning the cash register at the St. Joseph Hospital cafeteria where he made many friends. He was an avid storyteller and quick to share the details of his knowledge of gardening, wine making, bee keeping, fishing and hunting. During his last years in Montana he thoroughly enjoyed fishing on Flathead Lake. Carl was preceded in death by his parents Erdmann and Carolina Ehlert, his brothers Dewey and Loren, and his wife, Joan. His daughter Anita Hansen, son Steven Ehlert, sisters Loraine Groves and Delores Arends, of Iowa, and his grandchildren Stephanie Ehlert, Robin Leabman, Scott Ehlert, Elizabeth Hansen, and Warren Hansen survive him. A Memorial Service will be held at Grogan Funeral Home in Polson, on May 9th at 1:00 P.M with Rev. John Payne officiating. Military honors will follow the service at the funeral home A reception will follow at the home of Anita and Barry Hansen. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
I am the niece of Alice Frailey. My parents are Mattie Pope and the late Harold Pope of Herrick, Illinois. I was so sorry to learn of Carl’s passing. Our deepest sympathy goes out to your family. My father taught at Vandalia Correctional Center with Carl. He was a wonderful part of my life and I will always think of him with admiration and respect. He always was interested in whatever I was endeavoring to do and was one of my greatest supporters when I decided to go to college at age 30. The last time I saw him, I told him he would always be my Uncle Carl. May God give you strength and comfort at this sad time. Coral Dolan
Our deepest condolences to all the family. Grandpa Carl’s memory will always be with us.
Justin, Carolina, Houston & Ashton Frailey
My sympathies go out to the family and friends for their loss. Please know that you can rely on Jehovah God for comfort because He cares for all of us (1 Peter 5:7).
I’ll always remember Grandpa Carl as a mentor, friend, fishing buddy, the man who taught me how to fly a kite, and someone I’ve missed for several years now.
I corresponded with him via email for a couple years after he moved and then no email address or phone number listed worked. I would have been honored to have been able to come to his funeral. My little girls who are now 14 and 9 loved him too. We watched some home movies of him with the kids in Vandalia last night.
We love you grandpa and know that you are in heaven and we’ll see each ther again!
Darrin, Debbi, Taylor and Meghan
I’ll miss you Grandpa Carl. I wish we could have found a way to get together while I was in Montana Elk hunting a couple years ago. I had 24hrs driving out there but we were two hours apart and I had no transportation get an closer and he couldn’t make it to see me. I never saw him again after he left Illinois. He’s the only Grandpa I ever knew and was always supportive in everything I attempted. I will definitely miss that. I will remember all the quail and pheasant hunting and the cups of coffee afterwards talking about the hunt. So many things I don’t understand about the last several years that took place with him and Grandma. Life is a temporary thing for sure and relationships are fragile. Please know that he was loved very much back here in Illinois.
Shane, Kathy, Lexi, Maisie and Skylar Lay
grandpa – you were always good to me and to my girls! We loved and appreciated you! We are very sorry that we did not hear about your passing until it was too late to come for your funeral! We are very, very sorry that we were not able to pay our last respects to you! taylor and Meghan send their love and condolences!
Our mother was married to Carl, for 36 years, and we were all saddened by their separation, we all loved Carl very much, and express our deepest sympathy to his children and grand children. Randy, Chally, and Carol Ann.
I am saddened to hear of Carl’s passing. I got to know Carl a few years ago. We shared good converstion and stories. I am honored to have Carl as my friend. He will be missed by all that knew him. Steve