Ferdinand W. Ollhoff, age 94, passed away on Aug. 30, 2014 at Woodland Court in Merrill under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice.
Ferdinand was born Nov. 1, 1919 to the late Ferdinand and Bertha (Sharbius) Ollhoff in the town of Scott. He married Elenora Baumann on June 19, 1943, a union of 71 years together.
Ferdinand farmed for 25 years and was very active in AMPI. After completing Lincoln County Normal School, he stayed home to help his mother on the farm. In 1967, he went to work for ASCS in Antigo, WI. In 1980, Ferdinand transferred in Wausau for a few years before retiring in 1984 to work part-time for the Wisconsin Crop Reporting Service for four years. Never fully retiring, he went into the bee keeping business until 2007 and was known at the farmers market as the “honey man.” Ferdinand enjoyed being outdoors, hunting and fishing. He belonged to several card clubs over the years, and enjoyed traveling through the years to Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico and a number of their neighboring islands. Ferdinand also served on the town of Scott school board and eventually serving on the school board when the Corning Scott School was built. He was a very active member of St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ where he ushered for many years and also served on the church council.
Survivors include his wife, Elenora Ollhoff, of Merrill; four sons, Robert (MaryAnn) Ollhoff, New Berlin, Richard (Betty) Ollhoff, Tomahawk, William (Jane) Ollhoff, Merrill, and Tom (Laurie) Ollhoff, of Wausau; one daughter, Ellen (Guy) Ganz, Merrill; 11 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and numerous brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ. Pastor Missy Holdorf will officiate. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Entombment will follow in Merrill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Ferdinand’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Waid Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.waidfuneral.com.