Vernon James Ehlers

A Representative from Michigan; born in Pipestone, Pipestone County, Minn., February 6, 1934; educated at home by his parents; attended Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1952-1956; A.B., University of California, Berkeley, Calif., 1956; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, Calif., 1960; teaching and scientific research, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 1956-1966; professor of physics, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1966-1983; commissioner, Kent County, Mich., 1975-1983; member of the Michigan state house of representatives, 1983-1985; member of the Michigan state senate, 1985-1993; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Third Congress by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Paul B. Henry, reelected to the eight succeeding Congresses (December 7, 1993-January 3, 2011); chair, Committee on House Administration (One Hundred Ninth Congress); was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Twelfth Congress in 2010. Died on Aug. 15 2017 at his home in Grand Rapids, Mich. He was 83. Rick Treur, Dr. Ehlers’s former campaign manager, said the cause was Alzheimer’s disease. He married Johanna Meulink in 1958. She survives him, as do two sons, Brian and Todd; two daughters, Heidi Rienstra and Marla Ehlers; two sisters, Frances Engle and Henrietta Buurma; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.