The Rev. Dr. Don Ehlers

Don Ehlers (born Donald Carl Ehlers) came into this world on Sunday, June 18, 1950, fittingly on Father’s Day in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, to John and Lavon Ehlers. Greeting him at home were three older brothers: Gerald "Jerry", Kenneth “Ken”, and Richard “Rich”. Their family was joined by three younger siblings: Karen, Kevin, and Mark. Don grew up on the family farm in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. Throughout his childhood and through high school, he worked tirelessly on the family farm, learning vital life lessons from working in the fields to milking cows.

For Don, 1968 was a momentous year. He would graduate from high school having excelled in many different activities including football, basketball, and band. He bought his first car, a legendary 1968 Chevelle SS 396, a car that attained mythical status for our family. The Ehlers Four and Moore music group was founded and became a critical component to his musical journey. Finally, although their first date was after graduation, it was during their time in high school when he met the love of his life, Marjean Potter.

After high school graduation, Don enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa where he completed 2 years of college prior to transferring to Iowa State University in 1970 where he completed his college degree. In a transformational moment in that same year, Don wrote his first song, “Stay With Me”. It was this song that provided the ultimate conviction for Marjean that they should be lifetime partners, truly launching their unending love and partnership. While growing closer and establishing the foundation of their incredible love story, Don and Marjean were married on September 23, 1972. Following Don’s graduation in March of 1973, they served as co-head teachers at the Perry Daycare Center. In August of 1973, Don followed a dream to begin a career with his incredible musical talent, signing his first contract to sing at the Holiday Inn night club. Although his career ultimately went in a different direction, Don’s incredible gift for music was fully realized with the release of his first album, “The Touch of Love”, twenty-five years later.

Early in their marriage, Don and Marjean discovered that they wanted a shared career. Together, they decided in the fall of 1974 to attend seminary at Pacific School of Religion. However, financial barriers led them back to Iowa where their search for a meaningful vocation continued. In January of 1975, they began a joint position as Associates in Ministry at the Wesley Foundation at the University of Northern Iowa. While there, the Reverend Bob Ellis served as a significant mentor to both Don and Marjean. During their time at the University of Northern Iowa, they also completed their Masters in counseling. In 1980, they successfully achieved their desired goal for a shared long-term career serving as Co-Directors of the Wesley Foundation at Northwest Missouri State University, a position they held for 35 years. Over the decades, they became impactful leaders in the United Methodist Church and campus ministry from the local level to the national stage, including Don serving on the General Board of Discipleship from 1996-2004.

Don’s career was filled with ongoing advancement and accomplishment. In 1986, he became a licensed professional counselor. Two years later, he was consecrated as a diaconal minister in the Missouri West United Methodist Conference. In April of 1996, the United Methodist General Conference approved a new order of ministry - the Order of Deacon. Don and Marjean saw that as a positive step for their calling to continue to serve in the United Methodist Church. This opened the door for them to be able to officiate at weddings, complementing their devotion to young adults and their ministry in love and relationships. In addition to the credentialing in the church, Don furthered his accomplishments in academia as well. From 2001-2004, Don completed his doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Ultimately, he joined the faculty at Northwest Missouri State University in 2009 in the Department of Psychology, culminating with his opportunity to re-design the general psychology program in 2012. Following a wonderful and impactful career of over 35 years at Wesley Foundation and Northwest Missouri State University, Don and Marjean retired from campus ministry in 2015.

In the midst of all of his career accomplishments, Don would certainly say that his most meaningful role began even before the move to Maryville: his role as a parent. Don and Marjean became parents with the birth of their first son, Justis, while at the University of Northern Iowa in 1978. Then, shortly after moving to Missouri, their second son, Jesmin, was born in 1981. A little over 2 years later, Jacob joined their family. Five and a half years later, Don and Marjean were able to complete their family circle by welcoming their only daughter, Julia in 1989. It was a dream come true for Don to become a father and be able to parent with Marjean.

For Don, he was able to navigate the great challenges for achieving the perfect balance between career and family. Don and Marjean seamlessly integrated their children into their commitment to the Wesley Foundation. Their four children were constants at Wesley as it was truly a home away from home for their family. Together, Don and Marjean were able to continue to do campus ministry while raising their precious family and extending themselves beyond the Wesley Foundation throughout their years.

As the years went by, the added blessings of a growing family touched his life in countless ways. Justis married Gina Prokes in July of 1998; Jesmin married Karen Simkins in May of 2008. Jacob married Lindsey Karr in May of 2014, and Julia married Kameron Chones in August of 2022. From those families, Justis and Gina provided him with grandchildren, Adelyn (15) and Cooper (13); Jesmin and Karen had Nolan (15), Caelyn (13) and Braden (9); and Jacob and Lindsey gave him Brinley (7) and Brooks (4). These people - both the adults and children - were truly the treasures of Don’s life that he held dear. He loved being with them and would spend all the time that he could to share his life with them. Highlights that he loved included singing, boating, fishing, baseball, and golf. He was the quintessential father and grandfather you dream of having. In 2017 and 2019, Don and Marjean were blessed to be able to purchase townhomes in Beachwood, Ohio and in Overland Park, Kansas to be able to share as much time as possible with their precious family.

In 2019, Don was diagnosed with highly aggressive metastatic prostate cancer. In the midst of this jarring diagnosis, he battled through radiation, chemotherapy and next-generation targeted therapeutics. Throughout this life-changing battle, he was continuously faced with new challenges. In July of 2023, he developed an aortic dissection requiring emergent life-saving cardiothoracic surgery. That defining moment showed his resiliency and strength to fight for his life with his eternal loving partner, Marjean, and for his children and grandchildren.

On December 18, 2023, Don’s world was rocked by the loss of the love of his life. Marjean had fought an incredible battle for over 30 years with a rare autoimmune disorder with associated chronic interstitial lung disease. The severity of that loss for Don could not be understated, but he met that moment with courage and incredible love for his children and grandchildren. After losing Marjean, he began his final battle with his prostate cancer, never giving up and exhausting all avenues to be able to spend every moment possible with his family.

On April 21, 2025, the day after Easter while peacefully at home, he was called to meet his God and Creator, surrounded by his family, holding his hands, keeping him close, and letting him know how much he was loved.

Services to be held this Saturday, April 26th at Resurrection, A United Methodist Church, in Leawood, Kansas at 10am.

Arrangements in Kansas are under the direction of the Johnson County Funeral Chapel in Overland, KS. To order flowers for the service, please order through this link: https://www.johnsoncountychapel.com/obituaries/donald-ehlers