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Joseph O. Erhart, 83, of Mansfield, Ohio, passed away December 3, 2021, after open-heart surgery and complication of pneumonia.
Joe was born on September 28, 1938, in Mansfield, Ohio, the son of the late Joseph J. “Joe” and Doris M. (Porter) Erhart. He was a 1956 graduate from Madison High School in Mansfield, Ohio. He retired from the Tappan Company when they closed their Mansfield business. He served as a Sunday School Teacher at Cook Road Baptist Church and Mansfield Baptist Temple. Joe was a member of the Independent Baptist Church of Cleveland in Cleveland, WV. He looked forward to the fellowship there and served by having devotions and preaching when asked.
Joe traveled to Alaska when the “highway” was a gravel road, west to Idaho, California, Arizona, and Texas and down to Florida, working construction along the way. He enjoyed scuba diving, riding motorcycles, and did a couple parachute jumps, before getting married and starting a family. In 1964, he married Carol (Cogar) Erhart, and in 1968 added son Joseph N. Erhart, and in 1970 added son Michael D. Erhart II to the family. Joe was saved and baptized in 1973 at Cook Road Baptist Church. He loved the Lord and his family above all things. He strived each day to please the Lord and loved serving the Lord in any way that presented. His most loved sport was hunting deer and turkey. Turkey being his favorite; because of the challenge. He looked forward every day to taking his dog, Rusty, for a morning and evening walk. He especially enjoyed walking along the Holly River in Hacker Valley, WV hoping to see deer, otters, bear, and coyotes. One of the highlights of his walks was stopping to visit with the Williams Brothers, Todd and Jason, at their sawmill. He looked forward to sharing in all the latest news of his “adopted” family, the Hoffmans, across the street, in Mansfield.
Along with his loving wife, Carol, Joe is survived by his sons, Joseph N. Erhart, of Arizona and Michael D. Erhart II of Georgia; grandchildren, Nathan Erhart, Jessica Erhart, Michael D. Erhart III (Bailee), Joshua Erhart, Luke Erhart, and Caleb Erhart; one great-grandson, Peyton Erhart; and one sister, Patricia (Erhart) Baker of Mansfield.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his two brothers, Michael D. Erhart, who was killed while serving his country in Vietnam, and William “Bill” Erhart, who passed earlier this year and had also served in Vietnam.
Calling hours will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at Werner-Gompf Funeral Services, ltd, 1106 Park Avenue East, Mansfield. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 8, 2021at the funeral home, with calling hours starting at 12:00 p.m. Pastor Chris Cosner, Pastor of Independent Baptist Church of Cleveland (WV) will be officiating the service. Burial will follow at Lantz Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mission Program at Independent Baptist Church of Cleveland, 106 Mount Zion Road, Cleveland, WV 26215.
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Mission Program at Independent Baptist Church of Cleveland
106 Mount Zion Road, Cleveland WV 26215