Antonia T. Ehlers

Antonia "Anne" Theodora Ehlers, 87, of Winona, died Thursday, February 9, 2012 at Lake Winona Manor.Anne was born December 24, 1924 in Winona to Theodore Basilion and Eleftheria (Adriopulos) Tsatsos. She graduated from Winona High School in 1942. On August 14, 1948 Anne was united in marriage to Roger Ehlers at her home in Winona. Anne worked at Boland's as a bookkeeper and performed retouching for Herff Jones, while helping to run the family farm, boarding stable, and raising their champion Appaloosa horses. She was a dedicated lifelong member of the Winona Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, of which her father helped establish.Anne was a devoted wife, caring sister, loving mother to her five daughters, and second mother to her nieces and nephews. She shared a special inseparable bond with her husband for 63 wonderful years. They were a pair, a team, and each other's closest companion. You rarely saw one without the other. Her bright smile, cheerful disposition and contagious laugh will be forever cherished. You couldn't find a sweeter person anywhere. Anne was an exceptional cook and her Greek food was enjoyed by many. Her daughters continue to carry on the family tradition of her authentic Greek recipes. Her love of gardening, especially her Hollyhocks, was evident in the beauty surrounding their home along with eating the fresh produce from her vegetable garden. Anne also treasured time spent with family and friends, and loved traveling west to Jackson Hole, WY with Roger. Antonia is survived by her husband of over 63 years, Roger Ehlers of Winona; 5 daughters, Roxy (Ron) Abraham of Winona, Diana Tieben of Nodine, Renee (Phil) Harkness of Altura, Billie (Steve) Rudnik of Winona, and Cindy (Bruce) Joslyn of Winona; 8 grandchildren, Ramie Abraham, Verissa (Jason) Jonsgaard, Joshua (Becky) Hamit, Lacy (Jasen) Squires, Nick Rudnik, Minta (Matt) Kroeger, Courtney Joslyn, and Kai (Jessica) Joslyn; 5 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Constantine "Gust" (Bessie) Tsatsos of Troy, MI, and George (Martha) Tsatsos of Bensonia, MI; many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters Mary Fabares and Eleni "Helen" Kanellakes; brother Basilios "Bill" Tsatsos; grandson, Ty Tieben; son-in-law, Richard "Dick" Tieben.Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 6 p.m., Friday, February 17, 2012 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 161 Whitten Street, Winona. Interment will take place at a later date.Please share a memory of Antonia with her family, sign the online guestbook, and view her video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/283601