Rehlander, Milton F.

Milton F. Rehlander, 85, of Cedar Falls, formerly of Oelwein, died Monday evening, Feb. 8, 2010, at the Elizabeth E. Martin Health Center in the Western Home Communities, Cedar Falls. Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Zion Lutheran Church, Oelwein, with the Rev. Charis and the Rev. Leo Combs-Lay officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein, and after 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. There will be a military memorial service at 6 p.m. Friday by the Ross Reid American Legion Post No. 9 Honor Guard and a public Masonic service at 7 p.m. by Hebron Masonic Lodge No. 374 A.F. & A.M. Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein.

Online obituary at

A memorial fund has been established in his name.

Milt is survived by his wife, Darliene Rehlander of Cedar Falls; children, the Rev. Larry (Ellen) Rehlander of Elk River, Minn., Jerry (Edna) Rehlander of Waterloo, Margie (Jim) McMahon of Waterloo, and David (Kim) Rehlander of Waterloo; 12 grandchildren, Jon, Dan, Laura, Terry, Chris, Jeff, Kerri, Stephen, Darliene, Donald, Matthew and Miranda; six great-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Sang Rehlander of Wichita, Kan.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Dennis Rehlander on March 16, 2009.

Milton Frederick Rehlander was born on Nov. 17, 1924, in Oelwein, Iowa, the son of Otto and Elsa (Borchers) Rehlander. He graduated from Oelwein High School in 1943. Milt was a veteran of World War II serving in the Navy. He married Darliene Ruth Dilky on Jan. 23, 1944, at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein.

Milt worked for the Chicago Great Western Railway and the Chicago Northwestern Railroad for over 40 years as a fireman and engineer, assistant trainmaster and as a trainmaster and also worked at the Jamison Lumber Yard in Oelwein. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman and Engine men, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Hebron Masonic Lodge No. 374 A.F. & A.M., El Kahir Shrine's of Cedar Rapids, Oelwein Tin Lizzies, National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees, lifetime member of Ross Reid American Legion Post No. 9 and Veterans of Foreign Wars both in Oelwein, Oelwein Jaycees and was a lifetime member of Zion American Lutheran Church in Oelwein. Milt and Darliene have lived the last four years in Cedar Falls.