Rev. Richard Joseph Ehrens
Of Wheeling

Rev. Richard Joseph Ehrens was born on December 25, 1931 in Lake Forest to Fred and Marie (nee O’Connor) Ehrens. He passed away on January 31, 2008 in Arlington Heights.

Rev. Ehrens attended St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein and was ordained April 12, 1958 by Cardinal Stritch as a Chicago Archdiocese Priest.  He was an associate at St. George and St. James Churches in Chicago.  He was named pastor of St. Malachy Church and was the youngest pastor in the Archdiocese at the time.  Rev. Ehrens resided at St. Leo, St. Killian and St. Theresa Churches and taught Latin and Greek at Quigley South Preparatory Seminary and served as Vicar of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese.  From 1983-1989 he was Pastor at Our Lady of the Wayside Church.  He later served as associate pastor at St. Eugene and St. Rosalie Churches.  After his retirement he resided at Addolorata Villa where he was part time Chaplain.  He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed camping, hiking and skiing.  He spent time traveling and especially enjoyed cruises.

Rev. Ehrens is survived by his sister, Roberta (the late Donald) Gridley; nieces and nephews, Mary (Allen) Noll, Richard (Peggy Ellen) Kleinleder, Stephen (Marion) Rohleder, Kathleen (Walter) Spillane, James (Laurie) Rohleder and Megan (Thomas) Lahey; great nieces and nephews, Daniel, Crystal, Jonathon, Cai, Thomas, Walter and Eric and great great nephew, Cameron.

Visitation 1-3 PM, Monday, February 4, 2008 at Addolorata Villa, 555 McHenry Road, Wheeling and 5-9 PM at Our Lady of the Wayside Church, 440 S. Mitchell Ave., Arlington Heights. Funeral Mass 10:00 AM, Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at Our Lady of the Wayside with lie in state from 9:30 Am until time of Mass. Committal service 2:30 PM at St. Mary Cemetery, Lake Forest.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Addolorata Villa.