David G. “Hoots” Ehlers, age 87, of Dubuque, passed peacefully at 1:47 p.m., on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at MercyOne Dubuque surrounded by his loving family.  In keeping with his wishes, private family services will be held.  Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by the American Legion Dubuque Post 6.  Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street is assisting the family.

Hoots was born on October 2, 1936, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of John and Lorraine (Schmitt) Ehlers.

He attended school in Rickardsville and spent his entire life in and around Dubuque. Hoots entered the U.S. Army on May 19, 1959, and served overseas in Germany as a heavy equipment driver for 2 years.  He met his wife, Margaret Gaherty, at a steak fry at Crystal Lake Cave before he left to serve his country and they married on August 1, 1959, in Dubuque.  Hoots worked for Hunt, Doe & Hawkeye Beverage Companies as a truck driver delivering Miller Beer and in sales for over 40 years, eventually retiring in 1997.  Hoots was a social butterfly and a great bs’er who truly loved working with his clients.  He was a proud member of the Teamsters, the American Legion Dubuque Post #6, and he and Margaret were longtime members of St. Mary’s Church.  Hoots loved spending time outside working in his garden, doing the yard work and volunteering at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  Hoots had a green thumb and always generously shared the produce from his garden with friends and neighbors.  He was also a talented woodworker making countless houses and bird feeders for his feathered friends.  Hoots was one of a kind and he will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

Those left to cherish David’s memory include

his wife,
Margaret Gaherty-Ehlers, Dubuque, IA;

his children,
Bob (Irene) Ehlers, Dubuque, IA,
Ron Ehlers, St. Catherine, IA,
Mary (Dale) Doty, East Dubuque, IL
and Jody Dean, Dubuque, IA;

7 grandchildren,
Kelly, Brian, Ryan, Derek, Nicole, Matt and Perry;

9 great-grandchildren;

and his siblings,
Terry Ehlers, California,
Charles Ehlers, Dubuque, IA,
Doris (Ron) Cutter, Troy, MI
and Betty Schroeder, Dubuque, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, David B. Ehlers; a son-in-law, Bruce Dean; 2 sisters, Mary Ann (Ernie) Fiedler and Helen Ehlers; 3 brothers, Donald Ehlers, Lloyd (Grace) Ehlers and John Ehlers; and a brother-in-law, Bob Schroeder.

The family will thankfully receive your support through phone calls, greeting cards and memorials in David’s memory which may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. David Ehlers Family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com