Gerald Ehlers, Sr., 86, of Anamosa, died Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha.

Due to the current health pandemic a private Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Anamosa. The Rev. Nick March will officiate. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Anamosa. The family will greet friends from 3 to 6 pm Monday, January 11, 2021 at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa. Properly fitted face masks must be worn to enter the funeral home and social distancing must be practiced at all times . By using the " Guestbook " link, located to the left, you may share your thoughts, memories and condolences with Gerald's family.

Gerald Allen Ehlers was born on September 15, 1934 in Maquoketa, IA, the son of George and Matilda (Peters) Ehlers. He attended Maquoketa schools. On February 11, 1956 he was united in marriage to Elaine Margaret Laughlin. Gerald worked on the family farm growing up, after which he went to work for PepsiCo, Clinton, IA and then Clinton Engines, Maquoketa. In 1962 he started his own company, Ehlers Portable Grinding, a feed grinding service. He later went to work as a farm manager for several area farms and ended his career in 1987 as the manager of the Don Stickle Farms. In semi-retirement he was employed by Welter Storage and then fully retired in 1991. He was a member of the church and the Farm Bureau.

Gerald will be remembered as a hard worker who enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and spending time at the farm as well as with his friends and family, especially his grandchildren, to whom he loved to teach his "little lessons."

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Elaine, his children James (Karen), Monticello, Suzan Ehlers, Anamosa, Kathy Ehlers, Anamosa, Gerald Allen, Jr. (Lori), Monticello, Brenda (Bill) Hodges, Center Point, Kenny (Jill), Monticello, Linda (David) Marsh, Monticello, Randy (Connie), Anamosa, Carla (Keith) Manternach, Monticello, Mark, Colesburg, Judy (Jimmy) Heims, Jr., Anamosa and Richard (Jodi), Edgewood, 23 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, a brother Carol Gene Ehlers, Dubuque, and a sister-in-law Geraldine Ehlers, Andrew, IA, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Noah Ehlers, a daughter-in-law Michelle Ehlers, siblings Evelyn and her husband Donald Kaufman, Leroy Ehlers, Ethel and her husband Ronald Rockwell, John and his wife Marilyn Ehlers, and Gloria and her husband Robert Bleninger.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association.

Gerald's family wishes to thank the staffs of Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, and the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, for the loving care he received.