Robert J. Ehlers, Jr.

SIOUX CITY -- Robert J. "Bob" Ehlers Jr., 61, of Sioux City passed away Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, at his residence surrounded by his family after a long fight with cancer.

Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave., with the Rev. Martha Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery, with military rites performed by the U.S. Navy. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Bob was born Nov. 24, 1947, in Sioux City, to Robert and Ruby (Olson) Ehlers Sr. He grew up in Sioux City and attended East Junior and Woodrow Wilson before joining the U.S. Navy. He served in the Navy from 1965 to 1968 during the Vietnam Conflict and was a member of V.F.W. Post 1973.

He married Carol Goebel and later married JoAn Wendzillo on April 17, 1981, in Elk Point, S.D. Bob was a maintenance engineer for Robert's Dairy, the Sioux City Hilton Hotel, the Marina Inn, Wonder Bread Bakery and Woodbury County in Sioux City. He had also worked at the Marriott Hotel in Omaha. He held a first class maintenance engineer's license for almost 40 years.

Bob's family was the most important part of his life. He enjoyed spending time with his dog, Willie.

Survivors include his wife, JoAn Ehlers; his children, Robert Ehlers III, Richard Ehlers, Jeffrey Ehlers, Jerry Ehlers and his fiancee, Diana Schofield, Donna Krom and her significant other, John Engles, Anthony King, all of Sioux City, Mona Wendzillo-Gracey and her husband, Brian Gracey of Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and Denise King of St. Paul, Minn.; his mother, Ruby Ehlers of Sioux City; a sister, Sharon LaFleur of Sioux City; three brothers, Ron Ehlers and his wife, Diane, Gary Ehlers and his wife, Pauline, all of Sioux City, and Mike Ehlers and his wife, Judy of Tripp, S.D.; eight grandchildren, Colton, Kylie, Libbie, Kayla, Kelsey, Sydney, Michael and Shelby; and three great-grandchildren, Javier, Thalia and Cooper.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Ehlers Sr.; a brother, Larry Ehlers; and his mother-in-law, Donna Wendzillo.

Pallbearers will be Robert Ehlers III, Richard Ehlers, Jeffrey Ehlers, Jerry Ehlers, Anthony King and Brian Gracey.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Hospice of Siouxland.