Julius W. Ahrns, age 88 of Cassella, died on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater.

He was born on July 1, 1927 in Ft. Loramie to the late Herman & Josephine (Schmidt) Ahrns. On July 12, 1950 he married Mary Alice Heitkamp who survives in Cassella.

He is survived by children: Sharon & Les Hess, Hilliard, Joyce & Bud Johnson, Coldwater, Patricia & Gary Heitkamp, Maria Stein, Gerard Ahrns, Celina, Rick & Elaine Ahrns, New Bremen, Mary Jean & Fred Siefring, St. Henry, Jim Ahrns, Kettering, Carol & Paul Keller, Maria Stein, Nancy & Dale Clune, Coldwater and a daughter in-law, Kathy Ahrns, Ft. Loramie. He is also survived by 36 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and siblings: Bernard Ahrns, Pemberton, and Kathleen & Art Fisher, Fryburg; in-laws: Ivo & Millie Heitkamp, St. Henry, Joan Reigelsperger, Coldwater, Thelma Heitkamp, St. Marys, Rose Ann & Ivo Schimdt, Coldwater, Dorothy & Art Brunswick, Beavercreek, Charlene & Don Mikesell, Greenville, Ruth Frantz, Kettering, Alvin & Linda Heitkamp, Coldwater, and Dan Heitkamp, Dayton.

He is preceded in death by a son, Donald; two grandchildren; siblings: Joseph & Mary Ahrns, Martha & Clarence Poeppelman, Karl & Evelyn Ahrns, George Ahrns; mother and father in-law: Ray & Hilda Heitkamp; and in-laws: Rosemary Ahrns, Lucille & Ken Kessen, Louie Riegelsperger, and Louis Heitkamp.

He was a member of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church and its Men's Sodality, as well as a member of Catholic Financial Life.

Julius worked for the former New Idea factory in Coldwater for 41 years, and after that he worked for Ohio Recycling in Chickasaw for 15 years.

After retiring, Julie enjoyed spending time with Mary Alice, his children and great grandchildren. He also liked mowing lawn, working in the vegetable garden, playing cards, fishing, watching the Reds, and took interest in the neighbors' farms and crops each season.

He and Mary Alice celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last summer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2016 at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Cassella. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Friends may call from 1 until 7 pm Sunday and 9:00 until 9:45 am Monday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in St. Henry.

Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.