|
Howard Charles Ehlert, 27 year resident of Lake Van, Dexter, New Mexico, died Friday, January 22, 2010 at Kaseman Presbyterian Hospice in Albuquerque. He was 90, being born August 13, 1919 to Henry Albert Ehlert and Jeannette Fitzgerald Ehlert in Whiting, Indiana. He is survived by Esther Kallsen Ehlert, his wife of 49 years, by two children of a previous marriage to Georgine Schaaf Ehlert; daughter, Bette Jane Ehlert of Grants, and son, Kurt William Ehlert of Albuquerque; by daughter-in-law, Carolyn Detorie Ehlert; by four grandchildren: Allison Claire Ehlert of Albuquerque, Jeannette Rebecca Perkal of Chicago, Erich Thomas Ehlert of Los Angeles, and Elisabeth Rose Perkal of Albuquerque; and by companion "Nick", his last Labrador retriever. In 1938, he attended Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. His education was cut short by WWII. He enlisted in the US Army, was attached to the Third Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC), and served his country in France, Belgium and Germany, during which time he received a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. After the war, he returned to Indiana and resumed his education at Franklin College where he became a brother of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and lettered for three years as quarterback of the Franklin Grizzlies. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After graduation, he joined his father and uncle at Standard Oil in Whiting, Indiana. In 1957, he moved his family from Whiting/Highland, Indiana to Albuquerque, New Mexico in search of a healthier climate and a better quality of life. He found work with Amana Freezer Corporation, North American Van Lines and, finally, the Gas Company of New Mexico (formerly Southern Union Gas) where he remained for the next 23 years. During his career in marketing, he served three terms on the Board of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and became the founder of the Executives' Association of Greater Albuquerque, Inc (EAGA) which organization he then served for many years as both officer and director. His greatest loves in life were his family, his dogs and the out-of-doors. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, a marksman, a gun collector, a duck hunter, and a life-long owner and trainer of Labrador Retrievers. In lieu of flowers, friends of the family are invited to contribute in his behalf to Ducks Unlimited, One Waterfowl, Inc Memphis, Tennessee 38120 or the American Humane Association, 615 Virginia SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at The First Presbyterian Church, 201 W. 5th Street, Dexter, New Mexico 88230. Interment will follow at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. He was much beloved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed. Please visit our online guestbook for Howard at www.RememberTheirStory.com French 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400
|
