Eldred Eugene Ehmen

SYRACUSE, Ind. – Eldred Eugene Ehmen, 71, of rural Syracuse, Ind., passed away at 6 a.m. Saturday (April 23, 2016) at his home.

He was born on June 4, 1944, in Urbana, to Henry John and Harmine "Minnie" (Ackerman) Ehmen, who preceded him in death. He married Barbara Bowers on Sept. 12, 1981; she survives in Syracuse.

He is survived by two children, Brett of North Webster, Ind., and Anna (Matt) Lewis of Aiken, S.C. He is also survived by two sisters, Eunice Ehmen and Karen (Allen) Brucker; two nephews, Steve (Mary) Duitsman and Greg (Joy) Duitsman; three nieces, Colleen (Jesse) Cantu, Melanie (Leon) Sieberns and Amy (Eric) Hommema; five great-nieces and eight great-nephews; and one great-great-niece and two great-great-nephews.

Eldred graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1962 and earned a B.S.M.E. at General Motors Institute (Kettering University) in 1967 and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1969. He has worked as a mechanical engineer for General Motors in Michigan and Illinois and Dalton Foundry in Warsaw, Ind.

He was self-employed at Ehmen Contracting and Engineering and as a farmer. He held an Indiana professional engineer license and a plumber contractor license.

He belonged to the Ohio Gun Collectors Association, the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association and the Single Shot Rifle Association. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Syracuse.

Eldred enjoyed bluegrass music, camping, gun shows and long discussions with friends on conservative politics.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 26, and 9 to 10 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 27, at Eastlund Funeral Home in Syracuse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday, April 27, at Grace Lutheran Church in Syracuse with the Rev. Wendy Piano officiating. Burial will follow the service at Cable Cemetery.

Contributions can be made to Grace Lutheran Church, Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana or Goshen Cancer Care Center.