Bernard Richard Ehlers, 68, formerly of Dubuque, IA, Kieler and Potosi, WI, died at 5:06pm, Monday, October 8, 2018 at Alden Nursing in Naperville, IL.

Services will be held on Saturday, October 13th, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Kieler, WI. Visitation will be held in the Parish Center (adjacent to the Church) from 9 – 11am followed by Mass at 11 with burial in the Church Cemetery. Fr. Bernard Rott will officiate. Lunch will be served

Bernard was born December 28, 1949 in Dubuque, Iowa to Robert Ehlers and Inez (Leibfried) Ehlers. At the age of one year, Bernard was afflicted with a severe case of measles (rubeola) leaving him with brain damage and partial paralysis which was with him for the remainder of his life. He worked occasionally at Goodwill Industries and similar other odd jobs.

He was uniquely skilled in doing jigsaw puzzles and the bigger the better. He was fond of reading western novels especially those written by Louis Lamour and was a collector of American Indian memorabilia. He enjoyed travelling and took trips to Greece, Italy, Australia, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and throughout the United States.

For the last 18 years of his life, his legal co-guardians were his sister, Sandra and niece, Jennifer Schneider.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Ehlers (1992), mother, Inez (2002), and two infant siblings, Donald and Mary, and sister-in-law, Melanie (Thomas) Ehlers (2011).

He is survived by a sister, Sandra (Ronald) Flink of Naperville, Illinois, brothers Jerry (Donna) Ehlers of Medford, Oregon, Thomas Ehlers of Dubuque, Iowa and Roger (Karen) Ehlers of San Diego, California as well as four nephews, one niece, six grand-nephews and two grand-nieces.

Pallbearers are; Thomas Ehlers (brother), Roger Ehlers (brother), Nicholas Ehlers (nephew), Chuck Schneider (nephew), Joshua Schneider (grand-nephew) and Ron Flink (brother-in-law).

The Miller Funeral Home of East Dubuque, IL. is in charge of arrangements.