Obituary for Erlin Charles Womeldorf

Erlin Charles Womeldorf was born November 6, 1923 on the family farm south of Decorah to Albert and Johanna (Johnson) Womeldorf, the third of four sons. He was baptized December 16, 1923 and confirmed in 1937 at Decorah Lutheran Church. Erlin attended Blount School near Decorah through 8th grade and graduated from Decorah High School in 1941. He attended one winter quarter at Iowa State College, Ames, where he took the herdsman course. He farmed with his father and worked during the winter months in Cedar Rapids for Collins Radio, Wilsons, and Turner Mortuary (microphone division). In March of 1947 Erlin and his good friend Robert Lensch joined the U.S. Marine Corps for a two-year enlistment. Erlin was stationed at El Toro, CA in the 1st Marine Air Wing. Following discharge from the service he enlisted in the reserves and was called to active duty in December of 1950. After attending an Army school (Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Warfare) in Maryland, he trained Marine recruits for the Korean War as a member of the "Aggressor Forces" at Camp Pendleton, CA. He was released from active duty with the rank of sergeant in 1953. Erlin then enrolled at Upper Iowa University, Fayette, IA under the GI Bill and graduated in May of 1956 with a biology major. While he was a student at UIU he married Lilly Marie Hamre on April 2, 1954 at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah, IA. Their son, Roger Paul, was born in West Union in October of 1955. Their family later grew to include Joan Marie in 1964 and Beth Ellen in 1966. After graduation Erlin taught in the Calamus, IA high school for a year after attending summer school at Iowa University. The love of farm life brought the family back to Decorah, and when an opportunity came to purchase a farm near his home farm, Erlin began dairy farming until 1962. He then worked for Lang''s Dairy Euipment for a short time until accepting a teaching position at South Winneshiek Schools at Calmar in 1963. By attending summer school at Drake University in Des Moines and taking night classes at the University of Northern Iowa, Erlin graduated from UNI in 1969 with a master''s degree in Guidance and Counseling. He was a counselor at South Winneshiek through the 1980-81 school year. Erlin then farmed until retiring in 1987 with the crop land in CRP. Daughter Beth and husband Ron Kregel purchased the home farm in 1998, with Erlin and Lilly continuing to live there. Erlin was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church, being an usher for many years and on the Worship Committee of the church council. He was an avid reader and known for his quick wit. Erlin is survived by his wife Lilly; son Roger and wife Joyce Womeldorf of Lanesboro, MN; daughter Joan and husband Gary Fitch of Maplewood, MN; daughter Beth and husband Ron Kregel of Decorah, IA; nine grandchildren: Joylin, Rachelle, Shamiah, Jedediah, and Shoshana Womeldorf, Gary''s son Chris Fitch; and Kayla, Kyle, and Kaitlyn Kregel; and brother Don and wife Madeline Womeldorf of Sutter Creek, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Johanna Womeldorf, brother Roger James Womeldorf, and brother Walter and his wife Eleanor Womeldorf.