U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers remembered by Betsy DeVos and other friends

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and former Michigan Gov. John Engler were among several hundred dignitaries, friends and neighbors who attended a memorial service for former U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers on Thursday, Aug. 24.

Ehlers, who died on Aug. 15 at age 83, was remembered as an environmentalist, educator, father and public servant who encouraged his students, family and colleagues: "Leave it better than you found it."

DeVos said she first knew Ehlers as an educator - he was her physics professor at Calvin College. "I have to acknowledge it was not my favorite class," she said at a gathering after the service at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church.

She also remembered Ehlers as a county commissioner and state legislator in her early political career as chairwoman of the Kent County Republican Party in the mid-1980s.

"He was always such a gentleman over the years," said DeVos, adding she appreciated Ehlers' dedication to life-long learning.

"Vern has been a good friend and an important person in my life," said Engler, who served in the State Senate with Ehlers during the 1980s.

"Vern was someone who left a legacy at every stop," said Engler, noting Ehlers was charged by Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich with bringing electronic record-keeping to Congress. "He was a good man and a model public servant."

Pete Hoekstra, who was nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands by President Donald Trump, served with Ehlers in the neighboring congressional district for 17 years.

"Vern was awesome," said Hoekstra. "Vern was a kind sincere genuine Christian leader in Washington and he displayed that each and every day to me and his colleagues."

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, who succeeded Ehlers in 2011, said he looked up to Ehlers as a role model.

"Vern was a humble man, he was a thoughtful man, he was a role model for many people, including me," said Amash, R-Cascade. "People in the community looked up to him as a man we could respect, who would represent everyone fairly and independently."

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Benton Harbor fondly remembered Ehlers as a frugal legislator who would skip a stop on the Washington Metro to save on the fare even if it meant being late to a meeting.

"He cared deeply about the Great Lakes," said Upton, noting Ehlers served as co-chairman of the Great Lakes Caucus. "He was a teacher. He taught all of us. He was honest as the day is long, not afraid to vote against the party line when it needed to happen. A conscience of the House, for sure."

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, said he got to know Ehlers as a state legislator and as district director for Hoekstra. "He was a man of great integrity. He's someone who is greatly missed in the process."

During the memorial service, the Rev. Thea Leunk encouraged the mourners to follow Ehlers' favorite Bible verse: "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

In a light-hearted eulogy, former staff members Rick Treur and Chris Barbee recalled Ehlers was a meticulous, detail-oriented boss who corrected their emails, packed a lunch instead of dining out and brought bananas he bought at Meijer to Washington because they were cheaper.

"The years we worked with him were some of our best professional memories," Treur said. "We're grateful he left us better than he found us."

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