Friday, October 9, 2009

To My Friend


Daniel Earl Ehlerding

"Daniel Earl Ehlerding, 59, of Port William, died Wednesday (Oct. 7, 2009) on Stone Road, Clinton County, as a result of a farming accident. He is survived by his wife, Mary Winke Ehlerding. They were married June 30, 1973.

Mr. Ehlerding was born Feb. 13, 1950, in Jamestown, son of Rosemary Moeller Ehlerding of Port William and the late Dr. Howard “Doc” Ehlerding. He was a farmer. In addition to farming, he had a passion for blacksmithing, antique tractors and tractor restoration. He collected rare and unusual tractors, trucks and machine tools. He always was on the go, traveling across the country in search of old iron piles and finding steel wheels, engines or rare tractor parts. In the tractor community, he was known across the country as an expert in pre-1930 tractors.

He was a member of St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Wilmington, Clinton County Antique Power Club and Ohio Corn Growers Association. He graduated in 1968 from Wilmington High School and in 1972 from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in business production.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Shawn W. (Joy) Ehlerding of Port William; a daughter, Lisa-Marie (Justin) Reinhart of Columbus; a brother, Fred (Judy) Ehlerding of Hilliard; three sisters, Mary (Brian) Davenport of Vienna, Va., Greta (Joe) Miller of Vienna, Va., and Sylvia (Steve) Myers of Sabina; and several nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 73 N. Mulberry St., Wilmington, the Rev. James Wedig officiating, with burial in Maple Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at REYNOLDS-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 327 N. South St., Wilmington. Memorial contributions may be made to the Edward Huber Memorial Association Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 6010, Marion, 43301-6010. For more information or to sign the funeral home’s online registry of condolences, visit www.smithandsonfuneralhomes.com."
I have so many friends. Dan was one of those. He really knew tractors and iron and I respect him for that. More than that he was just a good person and a really good farmer.
If you google his name you can see what I mean, especially the one steam engine group.

I feel for the family. It will seem to some he didn't live long enough.

Believe me he did, one farmer called him 100 MPH Dan. That is the way he lived his life in a good way. He did things most of us couldn't do.

I am down to 40 MPH or so I think.

Dan was a good guy and I hope they can say that about me.
Once I won a tractor pull in Hamilton , Ohio with my Oliver 88 and got lucky and beat everyone on a wet sand track. You good really balance the old 88 with 100 HP. I beat everyone in the class including Dan's V-8. I remember Dan telling me you can't beat a good 6 cylinder on a track like this with a big V-8.
I have never seen so many pickup trucks and cars on South Street, US 68 in Wilmington for his visitation tonight. What a tribute to a good man who raised good children, took care of his wife and helped others.

Ed Winkle

2 comments:

  1. Ed, Sorry for the loss of a good friend. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and his family and friends. Sounds like the kind of man that will be missed by many. Those are getting harder to find in this day and age. Jackie

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  2. The man knows his tractors and old iron, just google Dan Ehlerding. Matt went to college with his son and was in Matt's wedding.

    His daughter won the state FFA Creed contest like Becky did. Our families inspired each other.

    You always hoped you knew as much as Dan but I never did.

    The clock is ticking. When you are done, you are done.

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