CL Ehlers

Clarence Louis “CL” Ehlers of Raymore, Missouri passed away on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Pleasant Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born October 20, 1939 at home outside of the Stover, Missouri area, son of Clarence A. and Alma (Bottcher) Ehlers. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pyrmont, Missouri, and was raised on a farm north of Stover. Clarence attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Stover and graduated from Stover High School in 1957. 

Clarence worked for a year at MFA in Stover, and then moved to the Kansas City area. He went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1959, held various positions there, and retired in 1991 after 32 years of employment. Clarence enlisted in the Army in 1962 and was assigned to Butzbach, Germany during the Cold War. He was fortunate to be able to travel to most European countries not under control of the Eastern Bloc. He was honorably discharged in 1965 attaining the rank of SP5. 

While working at Southwestern Bell in Kansas City, he met his wife, Judy. They married in 1981, started their family, and remained in Kansas City until 1996. They bought land south of Cole Camp, Missouri where he raised donkeys and cattle. He enjoyed many years while living on “the farm”.  In 2020, they moved to Raymore, Missouri, to be closer to family.  He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the Communication Workers of America and American Legion Post 343 of Stover.

He is survived by his wife Judy; daughters, Camille (Craig) Watkins, Jeanna Ehlers, and Michelle (Scot) Robbins; three grandsons, Winston Watkins, Jeremy Robbins, and Joshua Robbins; a granddaughter, Vivienne Watkins; a nephew Allan (Carolyn) Ehlers; and nieces Julie (Curtis) O’Rear and Brandi (Charles) Garland; and a cousin, Beverly (Bobby) Lemler.

Clarence was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Joyce Sutton; a brother, Hubert Ehlers; and a sister-in-law, Clara Ehlers.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stover with Rev. David Reimnitz and Rev. Erik Rottmann officiating. Burial will be in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery with full military honors presented by American Legion Post 343 and the Missouri Honors Team.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the church.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the St. Paul Church or the American Legion Post 343.