Ahrens, Herman Conrad, Jr. (1924-2016).

Rev. Herman Conrad Ahrens, Jr. was born on June 12, 1924 in Port Washington, Tuscarawas County, Ohio - to Rev. Herman Conrad and Ella (née Fark) Ahrens. On June 18, 1950, Rev. Ahrens, Jr. married Carol Lorene Kellermeyer (1928- ) at Calvary Evangelical and Reformed Church, Lima, Allen County, Ohio. Rev. Ahrens, Jr. died at the age of 91 on February 24, 2016, at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

His education included Harding High School, 1942, Marion, Ohio; BA Degree from Heidelberg College, (now University), 1949, Tiffin, Ohio; Bachelor of Journalism, University of Missouri, 1950, Columbia, MO, with honors. In 1975 Mr. Ahrens received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Heidelberg University.

During WWII, Mr. Ahrens saw action in Europe with the 84th “Railsplitters” Infantry Division, in the Siegfried Line, Battle of the Bulge, crossing the Rhine River, across northern Germany to the Elbe River, where his unit met the Russians, in peace. He received the Purple Heart.

In 1950, Mr. Ahrens was called to be editor of YOUTH Magazine, a national monthly publication for teenagers, published by the United Church of Christ. During his 31 years as editor the magazine received 20 professional awards for excellence, had a circulation of over 50,000 subscriptions in the USA and Canada to 10 Protestant Denominations and was recommended to Catholic youth through the Franciscans. YOUTH was truly an ecumenical project.

Dr. Ahrens was also briefly on the staff of Christian History Magazine and then served eight years as Commissioned Minister of Communication for the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the UCC in Collegeville, PA. He retired in 1992.

Dr. Ahrens was the author of three books, two educational booklets and many articles about young people in other denominational publications. At the 50th Anniversary of the denomination, Dr. Ahrens was honored as one of the 50 persons who contributed greatly to the shaping of the United Church of Christ.

Locally, he was very active in the life of St. John’s UCC, Lansdale, PA, for over 65 years as a teacher, youth group leader and active participant in worship and life together.

A full obituary for Rev. Ahrens, Jr. can be found bny clicking HERE.