Rudy Ehm

Rudy Ehm, 96, originally from Creston, Iowa passed away peacefully on November 15, 2023, at the Deerfield Retirement Community in Urbandale, Iowa where he had recently been living.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M., Monday, November 20, 2023, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Creston, Iowa, with Fr. Patrick Amedeka  Celebrant.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Creston, Iowa.  Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center of Creston, Iowa is in charge of arrangements.  Open visitation will be 3:00 – 7:00 P.M., with family receiving friends 5:00 – 7:00 P.M., Prayer Service at 7:00P.M., Sunday, November 19, 2023 at the funeral home.  Memorials may be directed to St. Malachy School and/or Creston Lion’s Club. 

Rudy was born on September 15, 1927, on his parents (Carl and Betty Ehm) farm near Kent, Iowa. He graduated from Arispe High School in 1945 and began a 50-year farming career south of Creston. He was united in marriage to Mary Klingensmith in April 1950 and together they raised four children and welcomed seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren into their family.

Rudy was a farming visionary and active in the Creston community. He loved farming and especially raising cattle. In 1972 he opened one of the first performance bull testing stations in the country and welcomed cattle from all over the United States to his farm. Rudy served on the Iowa Beef Producers Association board of directors, now known as the Iowa Cattleman’s Association, and was active in the Union County Cattleman’s Association. Protecting the soil was important to Rudy and he received numerous awards for the soil conservation work on his farms. He also served on the board of directors for Creston Feed & Grain and was president of the Union County Farm Bureau. Following his retirement from farming at age 76 he began a 10-year career in real-estate.

Rudy was a life-long member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and served as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He also was a member of the Creston Lion’s Club for 40-plus years, serving as president twice; Rudy served 4-years on the Union County Board of Supervisors and was a Union County 4-H leader for more than 15 years.

Rudy is survived by his wife of 73 years, Mary Ehm; brother Eddie (Alberta) Ehm and sister-in-law Joellen Ehm; children Bill (Rose Ann Shea) Ehm, Carolyn (Wayne) Stepan, Greg (Sara Carlson) Ehm, Marilyn (Chad) Platt; grandchildren Justin (Krista) Ehm, Sharon (Chris) Awadalla, Molly (Teddy) Wilson, Meagan Platt, Jessica (Brogan) Kearney, Davis Platt and Sydnie Ehm; and great grandchildren Ruby, William and Sawyer Ehm, Charlotte and Deacon Awadalla. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Rudy was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Betty Ehm, brother Chuck Ehm, sisters Rosie Lundberg and Mary Ann Dutcher, parents-in-law Vern and Rose Klingensmith, brothers-in-law Jim, Bill and Harry Klingensmith, Phil Dutcher and Bud Lundberg.