Elsie May Ahlers, Age 97,
Of New Bremen, died on June 3, 2024 at the Elmwood Assisted Living in New Bremen. Elsie was born on April 29, 1927 in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of the late Clemens and Julia (Butterfield) Fogt. On April 10, 1954, she married Donald J. Ahlers who preceded her in death on February 8, 2001. Elsie is survived by her four daughters: Sheree (Gary) Topp of New Bremen, Cathy Ahlers of Sidney, Tammy McCullough of St. Marys, and Donna Shelby of New Knoxville, as well as her grandchildren: Andrew (Erika) Topp, Ian Ahlers, Bryan McCullough, Margaret (Scott) McMichael, Steven (Emily) Shelby, and her great-grandchildren: Cora, August, and Theodore Topp, and Rhonan and Lilly Shelby. Elsie is also survived by her brother Marvin Fogt and her sisters-in-law Alberta Loffer and Edna Ahlers. Along with her parents and husband, Elsie was preceded in death by a grandson Adam McCullough, her brothers and their wives: Orin (Helen) Fogt, George (Elfirieda) Fogt, Robert (Viola) Fogt, Glen Fogt; her sisters and their husbands: Betty (Eugene) Opperman and Marian Dittberner, and her in-laws: Shirley Fogt, Richard (Lucille) Ahlers, Deloris (Kenneth) Rasor, Eugene Ahlers, and Max Loffer.
Elsie was a 1944 graduate of Anna High School. She had worked in the plant for the former Sieberling Latex Company in New Bremen, and later for the Copeland Corp. in Sidney. In her spare time, Elsie enjoyed completing search word puzzles and taking care of her lawn. For many years, she and Don enjoyed collecting Jim Beam bottles and would travel to various Jim Beam conventions. She was a member of St. Paul U.C.C. in New Bremen.
Private family graveside services will be held prior to interment in the German Protestant Cemetery in New Bremen with Rev. David Voll officiating. Memorial contributions in memory of Elsie can be made to Grand Lake Hospice or St. Paul Church. Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family on the funeral home website: www.gilberghartwigfh.com.