Memorial Service Time:  10 A.M.  -  No Viewing, Cremation Selected.
Day and Date:  Friday, August 27, 2010
Location:  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary - Russell, KS
Guest Book Registration: 9 AM to 8 PM THUR. Aug. 26, 2010 at the Pohlman~Varner~Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas.
Family Visitation: 6 PM to 8 PM THUR., Aug. 26 at the mortuary.
Burial: Private Family Burial.
Memorial:  Randy W. Ehrlich Memorial Fund

Randy “Rudy" Wayne Ehrlich, 48, of  Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, August 20, 2010 at work, during a tragic oil tank battery explosion. 

Randy was born on December 9, 1961 in Cambridge, Nebraska, the son of Darrell D. Ehrlich and Patricia Ann (Baker) Gier.  In 1965 the family moved to Great Bend, Kansas where he attended Countryside and Roosevelt schools.  During this time he enjoyed riding his pony (Lightening) to the Great Bend zoo and giving pony rides.  The family had a house along the Wet Walnut Creek and this is where his love for the outdoors started.  He loved to fish, swim and explore the woods around the area.  Then in the mid 70’s the family moved to Wilson, Kansas, where he finished out his school years. He then went to work for his grandfather in the family business, Wilson Exploration & Development.  In the mid 80’s he then moved to Russell and made this his permanent home.  He spent his life working in the oil field industry and also for Western Sales, Bunker Hill, as a mechanic, demolition and construction worker for his boss and friend, JR Modlin.  In 2004, Randy met and fell in love with Mary Ann Gihon and they have
celebrated their lives together as husband and wife for the past 6 years.   Randy was a jack of all trades, and was given the gift of figuring out solutions to any problem or job you asked him to tackle.  Randy was the classic outdoorsman, which included hunting, fishing, camping and trapping.  He also enjoyed cooking for his family.  Randy enjoyed spending time with his mother, Uncle Bill, sisters, brothers, father, nieces, nephews, many, many friends, and 8 great nieces and nephews. 

Surviving family include his wife Mary Ann Ehrlich of the home; father Darrell D. Ehrlich and wife Anne of Haven, Kansas; sisters Kelly Pasek and husband Larry and Shelly Whitmer and husband Mike all of Dorrance, Shani Bricker and husband Chris of Russell, Chris Rizly and husband Darrell, Lauri Holland and husband Kurt all of Wichita and Jane Soukup and husband Roy of Hays; brothers Rick Ehrlich of Haven and David Ehrlich and wife Connie of Lawrence; sister-in-law Landy Keller of Hays and a step daughter Kelly Missing of North Platte, Nebraska.

Those preceding Randy in death were his beloved mother Pat Gier, who passed away on June 11th, 2004 and his brother Wendell Keller, who passed away March 8th, 2007, Maternal Grandparents James and Mildred Baker, Paternal Grandparents Julius and Eunice Ehrlich.     

A memorial service to celebrate Randy’s life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, August 27, 2010 at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary Chapel with Reverend Earl Haggard officiating.  The guest book will be available from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at the mortuary with family present to greet guests from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Thursday evening.  The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to the Randy W. Ehrlich memorial fund and sent in care of the mortuary.  Condolences may be emailed by going to www.pvpmortuary.com.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.