Elizabeth J. Ehrhart

Elizabeth J. Ehrhart, 84, of Leland, IL passed away, Monday, March 14, 2011 at Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb. She was born February 20, 1927 in Oswego, IL, the daughter of Fred and Sarah (Wheeler) Claassen. She was a 1945 graduate of Oswego High School and married Alan Ehrhart on April 3, 1948 in Aurora, IL. She was a 50 year member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Somonauk where she was a former member of the handbell choir. Prior to her marriage to Alan, she was employed by Austin-Western in Aurora. She and Alan farmed in Southern Wisconsin and the Leland and Somonauk areas. Elizabeth supported Alan’s role as a Victor Township Road Commissioner. She enjoyed her outings with her friends to the river boats.

She is survived by her husband, Alan; four children, Diana (Phillip) Bird of Harvard, James (Roberta) Ehrhart of Kanasville, WI, Donna (J.C.) Linthicum of Aurora, IL and Scott (Natali) Ehrhart of Somonauk, IL; ten grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren with one due in June; one brother, Nate (Judy) Claassen of Albuquerque, NM; one sister, Betty (Clarence) Eberhard of Plainfield, IL and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Fred Claassen and Robert Claassen and three sisters, Doris Smith, Virginia Austin and Geraldine Stastny.

Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 18, 2011 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Somonauk with Rev. Thomas Brantman officiating. Burial will follow at St. John Catholic Cemetery in Somonauk. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a prayer service being recited at 7:00 pm on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk. Memorials may be directed to
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.