Obituaries : Don Mehlert

Don Mehlert, 85, of Grinnell, died on Friday, September 18, 2015, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. John Epperson officiating. Music will be provided by Jodi Mehlert. Casket Bearers will be Dennis Fleener, Mike Graham, Bruce Mehlert, Jeff Mehlert, Larry Mehlert and Jim White. Interment will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home beginning 12 noon on Monday and the family will be present at the funeral home from 6 pm to 8 pm on Monday.

Memorials may be directed to Windsor Manor in Grinnell.

Don was born on July 20, 1930, in Mount Auburn, Iowa to Walter and Elsie Hansen Mehlert. He was raised on the family farm, attended rural school and graduated from Vinton High School in 1948. The family spoke only German and Don learned English in school and brought the English language home to his parents and siblings.

On May 22, 1955, he was married to Fran Monroe in Grinnell. The couple lived in Grinnell and he worked for various businesses, such as Steele Motor Parts, Van Wyk Freight Lines, Campbell Implement, Hank Pawlak Distribution and Bates Flower Shop.

He enjoyed having coffee daily at Montgomery Sandwich Shop, playing solitaire on his computer, hunting, doing handyman projects, NASCAR and being with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Fran Mehlert of Grinnell; one son, Greg (Susan) Mehlert of Milton, Wisconsin; two grandchildren, Jeffery and Kimberly Mehlert; two sisters, Mardeen Kinsella of Bradenton, Florida and Darlene Schaucht of Tucson, Arizona; and his nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Wilbert, Delbert and Duane Mehlert.