Verna Mae (Johnson) Ehler

Verna M. Ehler, age 97, of Holstein, passed away on Monday, March 06, 2023 at the Holstein Senior Living of Holstein.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein with the Pastor Bob Lewis officiating.  Burial will be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein.  A visitation will be held prior to the service from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM at the church.

Verna was born to John Alvin Johnson and Edna Elizabeth (Davis) Johnson on April 1, 1925 at their home in Rural Wall Lake, Iowa. She attended Viola #4 Country School and Wall Lake High School, enjoying 4-H, sewing, baking and playing the piano. After graduating she attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake and earned a Two- Year Normal Degree in teaching. Verna taught school for 8 years in small area towns such as Terrill, Odebolt and Galva.

On August 24, 1952, Verna married Leon Julius Henry Ehler in Wall Lake and thereafter resided in Holstein where they raised their three daughters, Julie, Jan & Joni. They enjoyed time with family and friends, camping, occasional trips to Arizona to visit both sets of parents (which involved Disneyland), and lots of dancing. Favorite hobbies and pastimes were playing cards, dominoes, and scrapbooking (many, many photo albums), but especially excursions to Cobblestone or Lake View for more dancing to their favorite Big Band music, perfecting their jitter bug.

Verna loved watching her grandchildren, traveling any distance after each one of their births (including Washington, England, Alaska, and of course, Holstein, to name just a few). Prior to their births, an afghan was in the works for each baby after they were born. She always made herself available to babysit, stating it was her "privilege" to spend time with them. Even though she was really never fond of her middle name, Verna Mae was a beautiful, gracious and selfless lady . . always ready to lend a helping hand, drive a friend to the doctor, meet up with family or friends for some shopping, and get togethers for coffee, conversation, and many laughs.

She earned the Good Neighbor Award and 50-Year Member of Eastern Star certificate.  Organizations she was involved in were the Good Samaritan Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary Board, Ida Sheltered Industries, and volunteered for many activities/events at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Verna's forever mantra was living "one day at a time"! She certainly lived life to the fullest and everyone in her life was so fortunate to have had her as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She had quite a knack for cheering people up and making them smile.

What a blessing and treasure she was to everyone's path she crossed during her 97 years on earth.

Family members who preceded her in death are her parents; her husband and dancing partner Leon; her brother Robert Johnson; sister Margaret Dixon; and grandson Jesse Rohlk.

Verna is survived by her three daughters Julie (Ed) Rohlk, Jan (Cliff) Marden and Joni (Auggie) Hanson; 10 grandchildren: Amy Rohlk, Austen (Kelsey) Rohlk, Neal (Tishawnna) Rohlk, Natalie (Shay) Hartvickson, Sarah Rohlk, Danielle (Josh) Olszewski, Ben Marden, Brittany Hanson, Leyna Hanson & Mike Schweitzberger, Taylor Hanson; and 10 great grandchildren.