Full Obituary
WILLIAM J. "BILL" EHLERS, age 83, of Greenwood, WI, passed away at Marshfield Medical Center, in Marshfield, WI, on Monday, May 25, 2020 with his family at his side. A Celebration of Life for Bill will be held at a later date.
William James Ehlers was born on May 14, 1937 in the Town of Eaton, rural Greenwood, to Alvin and Mary (Morgal) Ehlers. He was raised on the family farm, attended St. Mary's Parochial School, and graduated from Greenwood High School in 1955. After completing high school, Bill joined the family in farming. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on October 15, 1961 and was sent to Fort Dix, in New Jersey, for his basic training. Bill was then stationed at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, WA, and this is where he was united in marriage to Linda B. Miller on December 9, 1961 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Tacoma. Bill served in the Army National Guard 32nd Red Arrow Infantry Division during the Berlin Crisis, until August 1962. He then served in the Wisconsin National Guard 128th Infantry Regiment until 1965. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Greenwood and bought the family farm. In his 20's and 30's, Bill would milk cows and do chores in the morning, and then head to the woods with his chain saw and cut logs the old-fashioned way. He would then return home to milk cows and do chores in the evening. After retiring from farming and selling the farm to his son, Roger, Bill bought a camper and spent time camping and fishing at Birch Point Resort near Bloomer, WI.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Bill served as a past president of Greenwood Dairy Days, served as a supervisor on the board for the Town of Eaton from 1988-1993, was a Greenwood FFA Alumni member, and, while farming, received the Mid-Am Quality Milk Award.
Bill had many interests. but especially loved spending time with his family, going to all of his grandchildren's sporting events, playing cards, elk hunting in Colorado, and always had time to go deer hunting.
He will be dearly missed by his wife, Linda, of Greenwood; his sons: Roger (Kimberly) of Greenwood, and Michael, of Neillsville; 4 grandchildren: Erika (Chris) Burns, Taylor, Jordan and Ryan Ehlers; 2 great grandsons: Raylan and Briggs Burns; his in-laws: Caroline Miller of Loyal, Don (Judy) Miller of Mayville, Mary Ann (Jim) Clemens of Waukesha, Susan (Greg) Thums of Rib Lake; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Alvin “Happy” Ehlers, Jr.; one sister, Amy (Stanley) Olson; and his in-laws: Ray Miller, James (Mary) Miller, and John Krupka.
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