Fred Wahlert of Brush, CO, passed away at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center at the age of 92 on October 31, 2022, following several lengthy illnesses. He was born on December 18, 1929, in Hillrose, CO, to Leona and Arthur Wahlert, the third child and first son in a family of six children.

Always a hard worker and a good provider to his family, he successfully farmed for his father at the age of fourteen for a year when his father was severely injured locally and hospitalized and rehabilitated out of state following an automobile accident. His family moved frequently as a young child around the Morgan County area, involved in farming. Fred attended schools in Hillrose, Brush, and Fort Morgan, where he later received his high school diploma.

He entered the Korean War in 1951, serving his U.S. Army deployment in North Korea with the 31 ^st Field Artillery Battalion of the 7 ^th Infantry Division until 1952. While there, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and was Chief of Section with a 155 Howitzer. Fred was proud to have served his country, and willingly expressed his sentiments to his family and others. Even while living at Eben Ezer, one could spot him riding around on and off the care campus in his electric mobility chair which was decorated with an American flag flying beside him. He was also honored to have been a member of the Brush VFW.

After his service, he resided and worked in Denver where he happily reconnected with and dated Doris Brunkhardt who was also working in Denver. She had also grown up in the Hillrose area. They were eventually married at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Denver on December 11, 1954. They moved back to the Hillrose area with their firstborn child Amy in early 1958, to pursue farming and to live near family. Their son Neil was born in 1959. Fred continued to farm in the same location, raising several crops, of which sugar beets were his favorite. He was honored as a "High Ten" grower during two different years for Great Western Sugar Company. In 1992, he retired from farming and he and Doris moved to Brush. Wishing to stay connected to agriculture, Fred served for a time as a ditch rider. Then until the age of 85, he worked for the county, operating the mower on roads throughout Morgan County, where he enjoyed seeing the farms and encountering the farm families he had known throughout his life.

He enjoyed reading novels and newspapers and kept a small library of books he acquired and collected over the years. He also enjoyed listening to and singing hymns and hearing country music. Having played basketball and football himself in high school while in Hillrose, throughout his life he was an avid sports fan, enjoying and watching Colorado teams such as the Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos, and Colorado Rockies. Gardening was also a favorite pastime. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hillrose and later Shepherd of the Plains Lutheran Church in Fort Morgan. Fred was a member of the Hillrose Volunteer Fire Department for 17 years, also once serving as fire chief.

Fred and wife Doris were married for 67 years and were honored on their 65 ^th Anniversary in 2019 with many members of their extended family and friends at their celebration. He dearly loved his children, three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, who adored visiting with him and hearing his stories. As his grandchildren grew up, he greatly enjoyed watching their school and sporting events. He will be sadly missed by them all.

Fred is survived by his loving wife Doris, and one sister, Alta Griffin, and one brother, Bruce Wahlert; his children Amy (Mike) Ely, and Neil Wahlert; grandchildren Erin (Allen) Goff, Matthew (Caty) Ely, and Christopher (Christine) Ely; and great grandchildren Cole, Ava and Michael Goff, and Emma, Leo, Cecilia, Annabelle and Adeline Ely; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

He also sadly leaves behind the many dear Eben Ezer friends and acquaintances he had made in his four years while residing there, as well as old neighbors and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Leona Wahlert, his brother Pete Wahlert, and sisters Alice Thoms and Arta Everett.

Viewing will be held at Heer Mortuary, 222 Cameron St., Brush, CO, from 4-6 P.M. on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Services will be Wednesday, November 9 at 1 P.M. at Shepherd of the Plains Lutheran Church, 629 Ensign St., Fort Morgan, CO. Interment with military honors will follow at 3:30 P.M. at the Brush Memorial Cemetery, 1100 Mill Street, Brush, CO. Memorial gifts may be made to the Shepherd of the Plains Lutheran Church in honor of Fred Wahlert.

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