Hometown: Maquoketa November 18, 1919 - September 01, 2016

Alice "Bessie" Ehlinger, 96, of Maquoketa passed away Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Jackson County Regional Medical Center.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Otter Creek on Monday September 5, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Visitation will be held on Sunday September 4 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Lahey Funeral Home in Maquoketa with the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery following the funeral mass.

Alice "Bessie" Elizabeth Ehlinger was born on November 18, 1919, in Zwingle, Iowa to Joseph and Lavina (Hutchins) Sweeney. She graduated from LaMotte Holy Rosary Catholic School. She married Julian Ehlinger on August 20, 1941 at Assumption Sylvia Switch Church.

Bessie worked at Clinton Engines, and was a homemaker. Bessie and Julien owned and operated Otter Creek gas station for 7 years. She worked a total of 32 years at the Otter Creek gas station and retired in 2003. She was a member of the Alter and Rosary Society at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

Bessie liked to travel, playing cards, and doing crossword puzzles. She was very passionate about her religion, faith, and church, and especially loved her family.

Those left to cherish her memories are her children; Kenneth (Shirley) Ehlinger of Dubuque, Anne Block of DeWitt, Richard (Linda) Ehlinger of Oklahoma City, OK., Donald (Ruth) Ehlinger of Jacksonville, FL., Norma (Dale) Simonson of DeWitt, Dale (Chris) Ehlinger of Brighton, Ron (Lisa) Ehlinger of Ankeny, 27 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great-grandchildren, sisters; Gracie Kane of Bernard, Lela Mae McCormick of Dubuque, and Mary Wagner of Zwingle.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughters Connie Martin, Mary Green, Jean Ehlinger in infancy, son Raymond Ehlinger,2 brothers; L.J. and Jim Sweeney, and one grand-daughter.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.laheys.com