Earl Werner Wahlers

Funeral services for Earl W. Wahlers, age 89 of Albert Lea, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Myrtle, MN.  Pastor David Efflandt will officiate.  Burial will be at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery.  Visitation will be Friday from 4 – 6:00 p.m. at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.  Online condolences are welcome at:   www.bayviewfuneral.com
Earl died on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Community.
Earl Werner Wahlers was born on January 21, 1926 in Northwood, IA., the son of Werner and Mathilda (Lau) Wahlers.  Earl was a baptized and confirmed lifelong member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.  After Earl was confirmed in April 1941, he started teaching Sunday School the following year and continued until he was drafted into the Marine Corps in 1951.  He served honorably during the Korean War as a United States Marine.  He was stationed in Korea as a communications teletype operator for 15 months.  After being discharged, Earl worked at the Albert Lea Tribune as a teletype setter from 1953-1956.  In 1956 he started working at Wilson’s as a teletype operator, where he worked for 32 years.  Upon retirement in 1988, he enjoyed volunteering with Meals-On-The-Go and leading and participating in Rusty Hinges at the YMCA.  Earl’s faith was an important part of his life and he served his church in many capacities;  Sunday School teacher, president of Luther League, council member, council president, mentor to confirmands and he spent many hours on the lawn mower.  Earl enjoyed golfing, fishing, deer hunting with family and friends near Park Rapids, snowmobiling, stock car racing, flying (Piper Cub and Stenson), singing in choirs, especially church men’s chorus, Wilson’s choir and the Careyaires.
Survivors include his sister Maves Zimmerman,  nephews Dale Hanson, Wayne Hanson, LeRoy Hanson, Clay Zimmerman, Ronnie Zimmerman and Lonnie Zimmerman; nieces Audrey Mlodzik, Char Embry and Connie Smith;  great nephews Joe Hanson, Mike Hanson, John Hanson, Matt Zimmerman,  Barry Jepson, David, John and Mike Embry, Cory and Casey Zimmerman, Steven Lenz, David, Shannon and Tanner Smith;  great-nieces Sandy (Hanson) Bruner, Jodi Zimmerman, Jacquelyn Snell, Kelsy Zimmerman, Coreen Miller and Crystal Smith; and  great-great-nephew, David Bruner.
Earl was preceded in death by grandparents, parents, brother Wilfred Wahlers,  sister & brother-in-law Marvine and Donald Hanson, aunt Linda Werner, brother-in-law Nathan Zimmerman and Great niece, Marsha Jepson.
Memorials are preferred to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.