Walter Rudolph Ehlers

Walter Rudolph Ehlers, age 100, of Stover, passed away Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at the Golden Age Living Center in Stover, where he had resided for almost three years.

He was born September 8, 1916 in the Pyrmont area of Stover, the third of seven children born to Peter and Anna Koch Ehlers. He was baptized September 24, 1916 and confirmed April 13, 1930 at Trinity Lutheran Church at Pyrmont, the confirmation verse chosen was II Timothy 2:5, “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

On December 29, 1940 at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stover, Walter was united in marriage to Renata Pauline Fischer, who preceded him in death on July 6, 2014.

As a young man he worked on the Missouri Pacific Railroad before being drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II; shipping out June 6, 1943 for foreign service. He was wounded during the June 6, 1944 D-Day Normandy invasion, receiving a Purple Heart.  He also received the  Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Rhineland, and Central Europe service medals each with bronze stars, a good conduct medal, an M-1 rifle marksman badge, and a national defense ribbon.      Walter received his honorable discharge on October 10, 1945 after 33 months of service.

Walter moved his family to Kansas City where he worked for General Motors until he bought his farm south of Stover in 1946. He began raising dairy cattle, pigs, and crops and combined and baled hay for his neighbors.  Later he switched to beef cattle and raised turkeys for Cargill. Walter and Renata operated their farm for 61 years.  He also worked for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) for 30 years doing surveying work.

Walter was a faithful, active member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Versailles, where he served on the Finance and Evangelism Boards and as an Elder and Trustee.  He was an active member of the Galloway-Martens American Legion Post 343 in Stover and for ten years he was a leader for the High Prairie 4-H club.

Walter was an excellent marksman, putting his skills to good use hunting the various wildlife on his farm. He and Renata also enjoyed traveling in their motor home.  He was a devoted husband, dad and grandpa whose greatest enjoyment came from spending time on his farm with his family.

He is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Judith and Norbert Schuermann of Troy, Joyce and Donnie Marriott, and Rita and Steve Barron all of Versailles; one sister-in-law, Lorena Koester of Stover; nine grandchildren, Ellen Schuermann-Lang and husband Donald, David Schuermann and wife Christy, Don Marriott and wife Kaslyn, Ron Marriott, Tim Marriott and wife Heather, Alicia Marriott, Kevin Barron, Eric Barron and wife Brie, and Jennifer Avey and husband Tim; thirteen great grandchildren, Anna and Addie Lang, Kathryn and Sarah Schuermann, Kade, Kresten, and Kehlin Marriott, Khale and Adaline Marriott, Dakota and Dustyn Barron, Landon Barron, and June Avey; and two step great grandchildren, Nicholas and Brianna Avey, along with other relatives and many friends.

Along with his wife, Renata, Walter was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, Arthur Ehlers, Elmer Ehlers, Alfred Ehlers, Richard Ehlers, and an infant brother; one sister, Mathilda Richardson; and one granddaughter, Melissa Schuermann.

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stover with Pastor Erik Rottman officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery. David Schuermann, Don Marriott, Ron Marriott, Tim Marriott, Kevin Barron and Eric Barron will be casket bearers and Ellen Schuermann-Lang, Alicia Marriott and Jennifer Avey will be honorary bearers.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 28, 2017 at the Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Home in Stover.  A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m, with Pastor Jerry Kurka officiating.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Grace Lutheran Church or the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

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Prayer Service will be at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the St. Paul's Cemetery in Stover. Memorial Contributions are suggested to the Grace Lutheran Church or the St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Friday, April 28, 2017 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Home-Stover 204 W. 3rd St. Stover, Missouri 65078

Prayer Service will be at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Saturday, April 29, 2017 3:00 PM

St. Paul's Lutheran Church- Stover 407 E Third St Stover, mo 65078

Burial will be in the St. Paul's Cemetery in Stover. Memorial Contributions are suggested to the Grace Lutheran Church or the St. Paul's Lutheran Church.