John L. Ahlers

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Cherokee.

John L. Ahlers, age 81 of Cherokee, IA, died April 11, 2025, at Accura Health Care in Cherokee after a short illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee with Father Dan Rupp officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 -10:15 a.m. with the family present on Wednesday. Lunch will follow the Mass with burial to follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Granville, Iowa. Military honors will be conducted by the Granville Veterans. Arrangements have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument of Remsen and Marcus, IA.

John was born on March 19, 1944, at the family farm south of Granville, IA to John and Frances (Hodapp) Ahlers. He was one of 7 children. He was raised and educated around Granville, graduating from Spalding High School in 1963. He entered the Army in May 1965 and completed basic training at Fort Knox, KY. He continued onto Army Transportation School in Fort Eustis, VA., where he learned repair of rotary wing helicopters. John used those skills in Vietnam where he was the chief navigator on a Shnock twin rotor helicopter.

In November 1968 John began working at Wilson Foods, later IBP and Tyson in Cherokee, Iowa until retirement.

John was a member at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Cherokee. He loved riding his Honda Gold Wing, playing racquetball and pickleball with his friends and maintaining his yard & small vegetable garden.

John enjoyed baking and sharing his treats with his brothers and sisters. He will be remembered for his delicious turkey and dressing at family Thanksgiving gatherings and those delicious fruitcakes that he shared at Christmas.

He is survived by five siblings, Gerald Ahlers, Ray (Donna) Ahlers, Dick Ahlers, Carol Pottebaum, Rosie (Paul) Bocian, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Erlandsen and her husband Chuck Erlandsen; sister-in-law, Frances Ahlers; brother-in-law, Blair Chicoine; brother-in-law, Ike Pottebaum; half-brother, Leo Ahlers and his wife Emily Ahlers; half brother and sister, Robert and Dorothy Ahlers in infancy.

Casket bearers will be Dave Zelle, Steve Erlandsen, Dan Erlandsen, Al Pottebaum, Mike Ahlers and Chris Ahlers.