Vincent Peter Ahlers

Vincent Ahlers, 95 years old, of Remsen, IA, died Saturday, June 29, 2013 at his home near Remsen, IA. 

            Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen with Rev. William McCarthy officiating.  Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Granville, IA, with grave side military services by Post 220 American Legion and Post 3328 V.F.W.  Visitation will be any time after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2013.  There will be a parish rosary at 5 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.
           Vincent was born Sept. 13, 1917, at rural Granville, IA.  He was the third eldest son of Herman and Josephine (Koch) Ahlers.  Vincent was raised in the Granville area and attended St. Mary’s Academy in Alton where he boarded and was educated by the nuns.
            Vincent joined the Army and after scoring a high aptitude in mechanics was trained in Omaha and was deployed to Iran to maintain vehicles on the supply route to the Eastern Front.  After returning from the War, Vincent began farming with his brother and best friend, Herman Ahlers in 1947 on a farm North of Remsen.  They farmed grain crops and raised cattle.  Vincent retired from farming in 1982 and moved to their current acreage in 1986 where he continued to reside with his brother Herman until Herman’s death in 2006. 
            In 2006, Vincent fulfilled a lifelong dream to adopt Jean Ahlers, the child he had helped raise and always considered her and her girls his family.  Jean and her daughters Jennifer and Lori loved and cared for Vincent throughout his life and comforted him at home until he passed.
            Vincent enjoyed fishing and hunting in his younger years and he was an avid birdwatcher.  He enjoyed playing cards with friends and family especially Pinochle which he played up until the last month.   He loved gardening and always had an exceptional vegetable garden and lawn.   He enjoyed cooking and loved to bake cookies with the girls.  His favorite times were just spent spending time with those who were close to him, who he loved; Linda Ellis and Family, Dave Plathe and Family, Judy Fortsch and Family, and Jean and her girls and the family’s Keeshonds.
            He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Post 3328 V.F.W., and Post 220 American Legion, all of Remsen.
            Survivors include: his daughter, Jean Ahlers of Remsen, two granddaughters, Jennifer Pottebaum of St. Paul, MN and Lori Pottebaum and her significant other Tom Olson both of Minneapolis, MN; two brothers, Urban and Edward Ahlers of Granville; two sisters, Mrs. Reynold (Rita) Theisen of Canby, MN and Clara Ahlers, of Granville, several nieces and nephews.  His extended family, Linda and her husband George Ellis and family of Fargo, ND, David and his wife Mary Plathe of Remsen and family.
            He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Herman, Raymond, Bernard, Arnold, and Clarence and his wife Norma; one sister, Helen as a young child; two half-sisters, Mrs. Mike (Catherine) Steffes and Mrs. Henry (Agatha) Steffes; his brother-in-law, Reynold Theisen and his special friend Mary Ann Hansen.
            Casket Bearers will be Josh Ellis, Nicole Ellis, Sara Sangimino, Mike Plathe, Rick Plathe, Jeremy Plathe, David Plathe, Don Theisen, Phil Ahlers, and Dan Ahlers.
            Honorary Bearers will be Linda and George Ellis, Dave and Mary Plathe, and Judy and Troy Fortsch.