Erna Bahlow, 91, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2010 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Erna was born April 28, 1919 in the Town of Hewitt, Wisconsin, to the late Otto and Anna (Henkelman) Kurth. She married Elmer J. Bahlow Sept. 1, 1945 in the Town of Hewitt. He preceded her in death on May 24, 1986.

Erna farmed in the Town of Corning with her husband Elmer. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in the Town of Corning. Erna was a member of The Visually Impaired Support Group at Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin and Trinity Lutheran Church On Stewart Blind Outreach Group in Wausau. She loved going to church, gardening, crafts, cooking, baking, listening to books on tape and was in the process of writing a journal on her life. Erna especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

Survivors include her daughter, Ruth (Daniel) Jakubowski, Weston; sons, John (Susan) Bahlow, Wausau, and Charles (Cathy) Bahlow, Tomahawk; grandchildren, Christopher (Cara) Bahlow, Wausau, and Tina Bahlow, Germantown; great-grandson, Justin Bahlow, Wausau; and great-granddaughter, Lauren Bahlow, Wausau.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elmer, grandson Zachary Bahlow, sisters Bertha Herdt and Dorothy Weber, and brothers Erich and Henry Kurth.

Services were held Thursday, Aug. 19, at Immanuel Lutheran Church. The Rev. Joel Danner officiated with burial following at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Town of Corning.

The Waid Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Erna’s family would like to thank the staff at Wausau Hospital in Intermediate Care and Palliative Care Units and all the wonderful Doctors and nurses who have lovingly treated her.