Eleanore Ahrens

Eleanore Ahrens, age 95, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton with Fr. John Paul Knopik and Fr. Stan Wieser Celebrants. Special Music will be provided by Doug Frisch.

Interment will be in St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, Dumont, Minnesota. Pallbearers will be Sheila Gjervold, Lacey Decker, Breanna Ahrens, Ava Klindworth, Chloe Lubben, Ella Ahrens and Carlie Steffenson. Honorary Pallbearers will be Eleanore’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time Thursday at the church.

While maintaining social distancing guidelines, we are now able to gather for visitations and services. The use of face masks by attendees is required. For those who prefer or require continued precautions, webcasting is available in most situations.

Eleanore Muriel Doll was born December 31, 1924 in Ermine, Saskatchewan, Canada to Ben and Hannah (Miller) Doll. She was baptized in Major, Saskatchewan on January 31, 1925. She married Henry Ahrens on November 25, 1942. To this marriage they were blessed with ten children. Eleanore and Henry started their married life farming east of Dumont. They purchased Club Lunch Café in Dumont in 1952 and raised their children in a small apartment behind the café until 1971. Eleanore started working at the Traverse Care Center as a cook in 1971. She worked there until her retirement in 1991.

Eleanore had many hobbies she enjoyed such as crocheting, acrylic painting, fishing, canning, cards, embroidery, reading and spending time with family.

Eleanore is survived by her children: Gloria Ahrens of Wheaton; Mary (Tom) Gilsdorf of Graceville, MN; Donna (Steve) Wahl of Wheaton; Joe (Susan) Ahrens of Rogers, MN; Rose (Steve) Lubben of Dumont; Jeff (Sara) Ahrens of Madelia, MN; Jack Ahrens of Maui, HI; and Sue (Chuck) Steffenson of Evansville, MN; twenty-three grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister Norma Wojtalewicz; two brothers: Leroy Doll and Ansel Doll; and many nieces and nephews.

Eleanore was preceded in death by her husband Henry; infant daughter Patty Ann; son James “Barney” Ahrens; parents Ben and Hannah Doll; sisters: Blanche, Helen, Betty and Jeannie; and brothers: Mike, Bim and Skip.