Walter, Erlin Wesley 1947 - 2019

WALTER, BLAESS, THOMPSON, BYRNES

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:43

U.S. Veteran
Erlin W. Walter, age 71, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Sunday morning, November 17, 2019 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, November 21, 2019 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Chad Huebner officiating. Burial will be in the Burr Oak Cemetery with Military Honors.

Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 20 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Thursday beginning at 10:00 A.M., one hour before the service, at First Lutheran Church.

Erlin Wesley Walter was born December 9, 1947 in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Howard Bertis and Pearl Henrietta (Blaess) Walter. He attended grade school at Lost Nation #8 and Burr Oak Village School, where he graduated from the 8th grade. He attended Thomas Roberts High School in Decorah through his junior year, then he spent his senior year at North Winneshiek High School, graduating with their first class in 1966. After graduation Erlin worked for Black Hawk Construction who was in Decorah building the new library on the Luther College campus. Erlin then worked for UPS and Midland Cooperative, prior to starting his law enforcement career.

Erlin was united in marriage to Wanda Thompson on May 1, 1971 at Peace Lutheran Church in Ridgeway, Iowa. They were blessed with two sons, Darrin and Dan.

Erlin served as a volunteer with the Decorah Fire Department from 1971-1977. Erlin was a Deputy Sheriff for the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years, from 1979-2003. He was always very proud of his service with the Sheriff’s Office. He served in the United States Army Reserve for 30 years, enlisting in 1966. He spent much of his career in B Company 389th EN BN in Decorah as a First Sergeant and finished his career as the Acting Command Sergeants Major for the 372nd EN BDE out of Des Moines. He was the senior enlisted advisor while serving with the 372nd, responsible for 5,000 soldiers.

In November 2006 he purchased the Decorah Cleaners and has continued to own it and run it with his son Darrin. He continued to farm throughout his entire life and was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Decorah.

Erlin passed away Sunday morning, November 17, 2019 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah at the age of 71, after an 11 year battle with amyloidosis. Erlin continued to serve to the end by registering for the Iowa Donor Network and providing his corneas so that two people would gain vision.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Pearl Walter; his father- and mother-in-law, Ernest and Lois Thompson and his nephew Mickey Thompson.

Erlin is survived by his wife Wanda; two sons, Darrin (Terri Byrnes) Walter of Decorah and Dan (Mollie) Walter of Ames, IA; and four grandchildren: Kayla Walter, Kaitlin Walter, Hallie Walter and Mitch Walter.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Burr Oak Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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