Ehrhart Leonard Albert Merklein was born January 27, 1926 in his parents’ home in Stuttgart, Kansas, the youngest of three children of Herman and Margaret (Himmelein) Merklein. On April 4, 2026, Ehrhart was granted his longed-for wish of rest and passed away peacefully at the Prairie Winds Assisted Living in Phillipsburg. Ehrhart was baptized February 21, 1926 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Stuttgart. He was confirmed July 18, 1939. His confirmation bible verse was 1 Timothy 1:15: This a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. Ehrhart was a lifelong member of Emmanuel, participating in the life of the church both as a member and volunteer; from digging graves by hand in his early years, pushing snow with his farmhand, helping decorate the big tree for Christmas with his farmhand, to serving on council.

Ehrhart attended school at Stuttgart until 8th grade and then returned to the family farm to work with his father and brother. Farming included milking and selling cream, raising chickens and selling eggs, raising beef cows and farming with horses. He commented later in life that he did not like farming with horses. After his brother Paul’s death in World War II and his father’s passing in 1955, Ehrhart and Mary Ann farmed on their own. He also worked at the grain elevator in Stuttgart part time, doing various jobs, including delivering coal. In 1987, he partly stepped back from farming to allow his daughter Jane and son-in-law Anthony to begin farming. Ehrhart was a very patient man and taught by example.

Ehrhart married Mary Ann Preuss on April 11, 1948, a union which lasted 71 years. From this union came two daughters Jolene and Jane. Ehrhart loved children and later in life enjoyed time with his grandchildren and eventually great grandchildren. He always had Smarties and pink Canada mints in his pocket to give to a child. Always caring, Ehrhart demonstrated his love for Mary Ann in the last twelve years of her life, sacrificing years of independence to serve unselfishly as her care giver.

Although he experienced the hardship of the dirty thirties and the frugality it required, he always made time to enjoy life; visiting or playing cards or enjoying music, understanding that life is more than work. Ehrhart and Mary Ann would get together often with her siblings, playing a “hot” game of pinocle or pitch and then “lunch” before going home. When entertaining visitors, he was always the gracious host, making sure he talked to each person. Ehrhart and Mary Ann also enjoyed traveling and went on several trips with their daughter Jolene and her husband Bill.

Music was a lifelong passion of Ehrhart’s. He loved listening to music and taught himself to play polka music with the guitar, the button accordion, and the violin, all by ear. Polka music was his favorite music and he and Mary Ann spent many weekends attending polka dances.

Ehrhart was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann, his parents Herman and Margaret, his parents-in-law Fred and Barbara Preuss, brother Paul, and sister Gertrude and husband Melvin Kelly. He is survived by his daughter Jolene Posson and husband Bill, daughter Jane Kirchhoff and husband Anthony, all of Stuttgart; two grandchildren Alyssa Stites and husband Travis of Phillipsburg, Colin Kirchhoff and wife Alissa of Prairie View; seven great grandchildren: Bella, Briley, and Bryson Stites; Louisa, Ingrid, Augustin, and Aldo Kirchhoff.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., at the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Stuttgart, Kansas, with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating. Ehrhart will be laid to rest in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, in Stuttgart, Kansas.

Ehrhart will lie in state on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, in Phillipsburg, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Prairie Wind Villa or Hospice Services, Inc.