Edna was a homemaker during the early years, having been a legal secretary for Judge Goheen of Calmar following graduation from Calmar High School in 1945. Charles worked for Calmar Manufacturing as a cabinet maker and later for Klimesh Ford as an auto mechanic. In the 1960's he and his brother-in-law, Bob Eppens, formed a partnership in Calmar Milling Service. They provided on-the-farm milling of animal feed to local farmers in Winneshiek Co.

All of his previously acquired skills coalesced in 1971 when Charles was named Executive Officer of the Winneshiek County Conservation Board. He was instrumental in the development of the then 8 areas in the county park system, the centerpiece of which is Lake Meyer, an artificial lake surrounded by a park, outdoor camping and his favorite project, the Lake Meyer Nature Center. He planted a prairie plot and created trails with self-guided nature tours around the lake. He initiated a catfish raising program at Lake Meyer in the 1970's, an innovative program at the time. The fish were released into the lake yearly. He implemented soil conservation practices to rid Lake Meyer of heavy soil erosion siltation from the surrounding watershed.

Edna went back to work outside the home after the children were all in school. She worked at the Iowa Liquor Store in Calmar. When Peoples Natural Gas located in this area she managed their Calmar office for several years. She left that position to take a position at Town and Country Jewelers in Decorah and later worked at the Calmar Post Office.

Charles and Edna were very active in the Minowa Square Dance Club. The whole family became involved in Calmar’s 125th Jubilee Celebration and Charles arranged for the Pennsylvania Bicentennial Wagon Train to pass through Calmar on its trip across the country.

The Ohlerts were members of Trinity Lutheran in Calmar and Charles served as the church sexton for several years. He was on the board of Trustees and a member of the Men’s Club. Edna was active in the Ladies Aid Society:

Charles took ill and was hospitalized in Decorah where he passed away on 19 Aug 1982 at age 62, a result of complications following surgery for an intestinal ailment. At the time of his death he and his crew were constructing a park and camping area near Highlandville. Edna followed Charles in death 18 months later on 24 Feb 1984 of Alzheimer’s Disease at age 56. both are buried in the Calmar City Cemetery.

The children of Charles and Edna are: C. Dennis, Becky (Remmen), and David R. all of Decorah.

Ohloff, William and Shirley (Olson)

(Shirley Ohloff)

William “Bill” Ohloff was born in Allamakee Co., IA. His parents were Charles and Velma (Schultz) Ohloff. Charles was born in the Postville area in 1894. He was the son of Carl and Mary (Krogman) Ohloff who were both born in Germany. Velma (Schultz) was born in 1897, the daughter of August Schultz who was born in Germany and Dorothea (Schultz) Schultz who was born in Postville.

Charles and Velma were married in 1928 at The Little Brown Church, Nashua, IA. They resided in Postville for 12 years before moving to the farm they had purchased in Section 2 of Bloomfield Twp, Winneshiek Co. They had 2 children: Bill and Kathleen. Bill and Kathleen attended the rural school known as the Moneek School. Later they graduated from Postville High School.

In Feb 1942 the house on the Ohloff farm burned. Charles and Velma built a comfortable 5-bedroom house and moved in that fall. Charles died at his home in Postville 12 Aug 1977 at age 83. Velma died at the Good Samaritan Home in Postville 4 Oct 1989 at age 92. They are buried in the Postville Cemetery.

William married Shirley Olson of Waukon, IA 4 Aug 1950 at the Little Brown Church. They farmed with William’s parents until Charles and Velma moved to Postville in 1957. Bill and Shirley continued in the dairy farm operation. They are the parents of 6 sons: Dean married Laurel Gericke of Decorah. They have 3 children: Aaron, Seth and Arica. Their home is in Postville. Steven  married Wendy Russet of Monona, IA. She was the grandaughter of Oscar Russet who was raised in the Moneek area. They have 2 sons: Blake and Matthew. They live in Omaha, NE. Daniel married Mary Shindelar of Spillville, IA. They have 2 daughters: Patience and Sara. They live in Postville. Thomas born 17 Jan 1956 married Carmela Douglas of Minneapolis, MN. He died in 1988 from complications of diabetes and kidney failure. They had no children. Marlyn married Joni Lange of Postville. They have 3 children: Candice, Collin and Craig. They live near Postville. Glen  married Kathy Johnson of Luana. Her father Kenneth Johnson was raised in the Washington Prairie area of Winneshiek Co. They have one son: Jacob. They live on the Ohloff farm in the Moneek area. Glen and Kathy are dairy farmers like his father and grandfather.

William and Shirley are still active in the farming operation. They live on a farm in Section 10 of Bloomfield Twp. which they have purchased.

Olson, Leonard and June (Casterton)

(Myrtle Noecker)

June Henrietta, the fifth child of Josiah and Augusta Casterton, was born at the farm home in Highland Twp. Winneshiek Co., IA. Along with her brothers and sisters, she attended the Rock Springs, or Kjome School, as it was better known. June graduated in 1945 from the Decorah High School and on 26 Jan 1946 married Leonard Olson of rural Decorah.

Leonard enlisted in the Navy Feb 1944 and was separated 20 May 1946. He was among the fortunate who survived the sinking of the U. S. Reid; and was credited with saving another sailor’s life.

The Olsons lived in Philadelphia, PA for 7 years where Leonard was a job shop printer at the E. A. Wright Co, and June was employed at Harry’s Delicatessen.

Leonard and June moved to Minneapolis, MN where he became an employee at the St. Paul Pioneer Press for