Margaret Joan Ehlers, 79

Margaret Joan Ehlers, 79, of Cole Camp, died Monday, July 23, 2012, at Bothwell Regional Health Center, Sedalia.  She was born on August 9, 1932, in Florence, Missouri, a daughter of George Edwin and Anna Sophia (Schroeder) Grupe.

She was baptized on July 23, 1933, by Rev. Chris Mayer, at the Florence Methodist Church and was confirmed on May 18, 1952, by Rev. Walter Strickert, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Sedalia.

Prior to her marriage, she was employed at Town and Country Shoe Factory in Sedalia.  On September 27, 1953, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sedalia, she was united in marriage to Melvin Harold Ehlers, by Rev. Walter Strickert. They made their home on a farm near Haw Creek northeast of Cole Camp.

She was a member of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, rural Cole Camp, where she belonged to the Ladies Aid and Couples Club.  In May of 1996, the couple moved to their present home in Cole Camp.  Her favorite hobby was quilting.

She is survived by: her husband, Melvin Ehlers of the home; two daughters, Kathy Coit and her husband Ben of Monterey, VA, and Sharon Steffens and her husband Randy of Cole Camp; one sister, Eileen Rasa of Mora one brother, Lawrence Grupe of Sedalia; five grandchildren, Erinne Coit and her husband Philip Weaver of Portland, OR, Glen Coit and his wife Heidi of Norfolk, VA, Shaun Coit of Wichita, KS, Ryan Steffens of Cole Camp, and Jill Steffens of Cole Camp; and two great-granddaughters, Ada Margot Weaver and Helaina Kathryn Coit.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Anna Grupe, and two brothers, Arthur Grupe and Elroy Grupe.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 27, 2012, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, rural Cole Camp, with  Rev. Michael Boothby officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery, rural Cole Camp.

The family will receive friends from 6 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at the Fox Funeral Home in Cole Camp, with a prayer service to begin at 8:00 p.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Steffens, Shaun Coit, Ray Rasa, Dan Grupe, David Grupe, and Donald Warnke.