Virgel A. Gelhaus

Virgel August Gelhaus was born April 5, 1928, the son of Paul and Alma (Brand) Gelhaus at Ledyard, Iowa. He grew up in Ledyard, graduating from Ledyard High School in 1945. Virgel married Rose McDonald at Sacred Heart Rectory on September 29, 1951. They recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. Virgel entered the US Army in 1951, received basic training in Fort Riley, Kansas and assigned to Heidelberg Germany until 1953. Upon his return home he began farming. Farming was his life. Even after his retirement, he continued to make his daily trip to the farms and fields. He enjoyed driving his truck and his H Farmall, wearing his striped bib overalls, checking out the crops, raising sheep and mules, polka and square dancing, vacationing in different states and going for breakfast at 4 am. Virgel died Thursday, October 20, 2011, at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital, Mankato, MN, at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife Rose of Ledyard; and twelve children, 6 boys and 6 girls. Randy Gelhaus (Michaeleen) of Bremerton, WA, Mary Gelhaus of Ledyard, Molly Geiger of Parowan, UT, Rodney Gelhaus (Loretta) of Livonia, MI, Ricky Gelhaus (Teresa) of Coon Rapids, Rolly Gelhaus (Marg...[more]

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t) of Severn, MD, Robby Gelhaus (Joy) of Lakota, Marcy Gotz (Brian) of Marshfield, WI, Mindy Gelhaus of Ledyard, Roy Gelhaus (Sheila) of Forest City, Margy Hendrickson (Marcus) of Mankato, MN and Marty Gelhaus of Odenton, MD. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Also surviving are sisters, Geneva Bauman of Ledyard, and Delores Marshall of Estherville, many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, son-in-law Michael Geiger.