Henry J. "Hank" Ahlers

Henry J. Ahlers, 75, of Mt. Pleasant passed away Friday, April 20, 2007 at home, surrounded by his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 23, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Robert Byrne presiding. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at Lux Funeral Home on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with a vigil service beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation continues at the church on Monday from 10-11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Michigan or the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation. Envelopes are available at Lux Funeral Home. Hank was born September 24, 1931, in Beal City, the son of Theodore and Teresa (Endres) Ahlers. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951-1955 during the Korean War. On May 5, 1956, he married Phyllis Theisen at Sacred Heart Church. He was employed by the Mt. Pleasant Regional Center for 29 years, retiring in 1984. He enjoyed bowling, traveling, gardening, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Hank is survived by his wife of almost 51 years, Phyllis; six children, Denise (Doug) Jones of Freeland, Catherine Doan of San Antonio, TX, Donald (Jeanne) Ahlers of Oxford, David (Donna) Ahlers, Mark Ahlers, and Patricia (Donald) Schafer, all of Mt. Pleasant; 12 grandchildren, Melissa, Heather, and Nathan Jones, Katie and Colleen Ahlers, Brad and Heath Ahlers, Danielle Ahlers, and Garrett, Grant, Alex, and Noah Schafer. four sisters, Vera (Richard) Blind of Beal City, Florence Dygart of Holt, Marie Knox of Livonia, and Teresa Lucius of Owosso; three sisters-in-law, Betty Ahlers of Lansing, Cecilia Ahlers of Concord and Joanne Ahlers of St. Louis; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Brian in 1970; three brothers, John, Theodore, and Raymond Ahlers; and four sisters, Rosia Parker, Martha Wood, Helen Meyers, and Agnes Kish.