Obituary of Erna Ehlers

ERNA (BLUMHARDT) EHLERS, age 95 of Lodi, passed away on December 31, 2004 in a local hospital. Erna was born on December 4, 1909 in Bowdle, South Dakota to Philip and Christina Blumhardt. She grew up and attended school and graduated from high school in Bowdle. She married Edward Merkel on August 9, 1932 and they lived in the Eureka SD area. Edward died in 1937 and she became a telephone operator in McIntosh, SD. In 1943 she moved to Lodi and was employed for Pacific Bell, retiring in Dec. 1972 as Chief Operator of Dial Dept. In January of 1973 she married Herman Ehlers and they made their home in Acampo. Erna was a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Pioneers Club of America. She enjoyed entertaining family and friends and her grandchildren and was known for being a great cook. Other hobbies included flower arranging and home decorating and traveling. Survived by daughter, JoEllen Merkel Gundert of Templeton, CA; Stepchildren, Walter Ehlers and Marlene K. Prudhel of Lodi; sisters, Evelyn Sippert of Minn., Martha Mueller of Danville, CA; Grandson, Robert Gundert of San Luis Obispo; grandchildren, Christine and Stephen Leonard, Michael, Kelly and Alyssa Gundert all of San Luis Obispo. 11 step-grandchildren and 19 step-great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by: First husband, Edward Merkel in 1937; second husband, Herman Ehlers in 1989; brother, Alvin Blumhardt; sisters, Geraldine Young, Elsie Loebs and Gertrude Bieber. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Lodi Funeral Home with Pastor Ernest Zimdars of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Pomona, CA officiating. Visitation will begin on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wed. 8 to l0 a.m. Burial will be at Lodi Memorial Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Ave., Stockton, CA 95204