Raymond H. Ohlde

Raymond Ohlde, 99, Palmer, died Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at the Linn Community Nursing Home, Linn. The family received friends Sunday, June 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer. A funeral service is 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 21 at St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer. Rev. Joshua Hayes will officiate. Sheila Stuenkel is organist and the congregation will sing “I’m But a Stranger Here,” “Peace Like a River,” “Just As I Am” and “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” Pallbearers are Brad Ohlde, Shane Ohlde, Shaun Ohlde, Marshall Blaha, Hank Shreve, Hadden Hiltgen, Chad Hiltgen and Josh Hiltgen. Burial is in St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Raymond Heinrich Louis Ohlde went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 16, 2021 in Linn, KS. He was just three months shy of his 100th birthday. He was born to Henry E. and Emilie (Jording) Ohlde on September 30, 1921 in Strawberry Township, KS. He was baptized October 2, 1921 at Immanuel Lutheran Church and confirmed on April 14, 1935 at St. John’s Lutheran Church. At the age of five, he and his family moved to the family farm where the operation is located today. He met his beautiful bride Gladys Geraldine Kahrs in Marysville, KS at a diner when Ray was playing ball. They married October 19th, 1941 in Palmer, KS and were married for 56 years. In the early years of their marriage, they had a dairy and sheep farm. Raymond enjoyed showing his dairy cattle and shearing sheep. In 1947 Raymond started the Ohlde seed business and in 1951 grew his first certified crop. In 1978, Ohlde corn was added to the business and in 1981 added the first private label soybeans in Kansas. Raymond partnered with Rodney and Ronald in Ohlde Farms Inc. in 1978 and Ohlde Seed Farms Inc. in 1987. In 1973, Raymond and Gladys were awarded the Soil Conservation Award by the Kansas Bankers Association. In 1986 Raymond received the Premier Grower award by the Kansas Crop Improvement Association. Raymond adored his wife Gladys. Their faith was at the center of their marriage. They spent every morning at the breakfast table reading the Portals of Prayer and the daily Bible verse. Their life together was what it means to put Christ at the center of a marriage. Raymond lived his life and ran his business with integrity and pride. He taught his family to above all else trust in the Lord. John 8: 31-32 was his favorite Bible verse. He liked to play cards and baseball. As a young man, he played for the Palmer Cardinals. Raymond was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He spent many an evening around the radio listening to baseball games. Raymond also played guitar and loved to sing. He enjoyed being a part of the men’s choir at St. John’s Lutheran Church where he was a member and served as an elder. He was predeceased by his parents, loving wife Gladys, son Rodney Ohlde, great grandson Luke Savage, sister and husband, LaVera and Kenneth Olsen, brothers-in-law, Elmer Heitman, Fred Gill, Elmer Kahrs and wife Madora, Glen Kahrs and wife Marylee, Vern Kahrs and wife Lola, John Kahrs and wife Alma, Verona Novak and husband George. He is survived by his beloved children: Sandra (Dennis) Wallace, Rogers, AR; daughter in-law, Carol (Rodney Ohlde), Linn, KS, Ronald (Anita) Ohlde, Palmer, KS, and Sonya (Randy) Hiltgen, Palmer, KS, and also his sister Lorna Heitman, Palmer, KS and sister-in-law Hazel Gill, Clifton, KS. He is a proud grandfather to 15 grandchildren: Staci Blaha, Michelle Meyer, Kim Savage, Kerri Winter, Kristie Shreve, Brad Ohlde, Tiffany Snyder, Jolynn Smith, Hadden Hiltgen, Shane Ohlde, Chad Hiltgen, Josh Hiltgen, Jennifer Prochnow, Kadie Voelker, and Shaun Ohlde. He also has 46 great grandkids and 5 great-great grandkids and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial fund is established to St. John Lutheran Church or Linn Lutheran School Endowment Fund. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington, KS. The family requests that if you see a thistle you cut it down in Raymond’s honor. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Raymond H. Ohlde, please visit our flower store.