Gertrude G Ehlers, age 93, died on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Westview Care Center in Indianola, IA. Gert was born in McClelland, IA to Fred and Ethel (Orr) Glissmann. A few years later Gert’s sister, JoAnn Glissmann was born. Gert and Jo were raised in a very loving and giving home.

When Gert was 9 years old her Mother died of scarlet fever. Many years later Fred remarried Lucille Bisbee Glissmann. From the moment Gert was able to help with the chores she was working on the farm and developing a very strong work ethic. Gert worked very hard, but made time for some fun every once in a while.

While at a dance in Neola, IA Gert met a soldier, Ron Ehlers on his first night home. They married on September 7, 1946 and purchased land to farm in Lacona, IA where Gert resided until November of 2016. Those who loved Gert were blessed to learn many valuable lessons, among them: vinegar and duct tape can be used for medical purposes, a flyswatter can be used to make you behave, make sure you take a break for coffee, have popcorn balls for everyone (not just the kids) on Halloween, always make time for your family, have a dictionary handy when playing scrabble, and in all you do, be kind. Gert enjoyed working hard on the farm and having the family stop by on Sunday for a coffee break. Gert loved life and she lived her life always being kind and positive. If you asked Gert how she was doing she would simply say, “Gettin’ around, that’s the main thing!”

Gert also provided valuable life lessons. She taught her children how to be loving, giving, hardworking, faithful, joyful, grateful and proud. She also taught her grandchildren how important it is to be helpful and kind to others. She and her late husband (Ron) would call their children and grandchildren and ask them to come and help on the farm. Whether it be cutting wood, moving cattle, raking hay, dressing chickens, preparing and canning sweet corn, or bailing hay the family would be together working hard and without even knowing it making many memories. Gert would always interrupt a day of work delivering lunch and coffee to the field, timber or wherever the workers were that day. The grandkids knew along with drinks came some of Grandma’s famous peanut butter cookies topped with a chocolate star. Working hard was always part of Gert’s life, but she knew how to enjoy herself too.

She loved spending time with her family, traveling, tending to her cats, playing cards, putting puzzles together, watching sports, participating in woman’s club, taking the grandkids to A&W, and Sunday dinners with her children and grandchildren. Gert was definitely known for her green thumb. Her garden was her pride and joy, and her harvest was always plentiful. Gert would take her grandkids out to pick red raspberries and ride old “putt-putt” (her 530 tractor.) She taught her grandchildren and even great grandchildren the importance of taking care and how to bottle feed calves that were unable to get milk from their mothers. Farming was an important part of Gert’s life and she continued farming and choring well into her 80’s. Although, Gert couldn’t physically chore any longer she continued documenting and tracking all the cattle and process of the daily farming life. She also opened her home every Sunday and provided an assortment of meat, cheeses, desserts and, of course, coffee to her family.

Gert will be missed, it’s too hard to forget someone who gave us all so much to remember. Gert would want all of us to sit down, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy your family… but, "not to change the subject” she would want to talk about the outcome of last night’s game and probably talk about how vinegar or pepper could help with that cut or scrape you have on your hand.

Gert was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Ethel Glissmann, step-mother, Lucille Glissmann, her sister JoAnn Glissmann and husband Ron Ehlers. Left to cherish her memories are son Lyle (Becky) Ehlers, daughter Ronna (Ken) Hall, son Leon (Connie) Ehlers all of Lucas, IA. 6 grandchildren Lindsay (Dan) Moore, Troy (Andrea) Hall, Tracy (Sarah) Hall, Todd (Karcy) Hall, Laurie (Chad) Breyfogle and Lisa Ehlers and 12 great grandchildren

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