Odilo Nicholas Ahlers 1918-2007

AHLERS SCHNEIDER GIBBS

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/17/2011 at 17:49:51

Mapleton Press
20 December 2007

Odilo N. Ahlers, age 89 of Mapleton died Thursday, December 6, 2007 in Mapleton.

Services were held 11 a.m. Monday, December 10 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Danbury with Rev. Terry Roder officiating. Burial was in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery. Julie Hamann was the organist and vocalist for the service. A Vigil Wake Service was held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Odilo Nicholas Ahlers was born October 30, 1918, at Granville, Iowa, the son of Henry and Frances (Schneider) Ahlers. He grew up and was educated in the Granville area. On November 28, 1940, he was united in marriage to Esther B. Klein at Alton, Iowa. The couple farmed in the Granville, Fostoria and Paulina area. They moved to Bronson, Iowa where they continued to farm and later did the same at Luton, Iowa. Odilo also worked at Wilson Trailer Company in Sioux City until retiring in 1984 and moving to Danbury. There he ran Ahlers Saw Sharpening business. Esther died March 24, 1989 after 49 years of marriage.

He married Gilma Gibbs in October of 1996. She died in January of 2005 Odilo moved into Maple Heights Nursing Home in 2002.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Danbury. He loved to fish and antique. He was a great cook and found enjoyment in dancing. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were the pride and joy of his life.

Survivors include his 12 children, son, Roger Ahlers of Fremont, Nebraska, daughter, Mary Ann Roth and her husband Joe of Ashton, Iowa, daughter, Frances Hennings of Sioux City, Iowa, son, Leland Ahlers and his wife, Gerri of Orlando, Florida, daughter, Susan Krueger and her husband, Kenneth of Danbury, Iowa, son, Russell Ahlers and his wife Marlene of Beatrice, Nebraska, son, Roy Ahlers and his wife Gayle of Sioux City, Iowa, son, Mark Ahlers and his wife Debbie of Magnolia, Illinois, daughter Gloria Martin and her husband Alan of Bronson, Iowa, daughter, Karla McClennen and her husband Mike of Sioux City, Iowa, son Paul Ahlers and his wife Cozette of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, and son, Jeff Ahlers and his wife Dee of Sioux City, Iowa; 35 grandchildren; 51 great grandchildren; one sister-in-law and three brothers-in-law.

Along with his wives, Odilo was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Luke Ahlers and three sisters.

Pallbearers were grandsons, Douglas Roth, Daniel Roth, Robert Roth, Matthew Leyua, Dale Hennings, Jr., Dean Hennings, William Krueger, Kyke Krueger, Michael Ahlers, Anthony Ahlers, Alan B. Martin, James Martin, Edward Cole III, Cory Hansen, Ryan McClennen, Jeremy McClennen and Daniel Sullivan.

Arrangements were made under the direction of the Danbury and Mapleton.