John Ahrens

            "Big John" Ahrens went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 30, 2015. He passed away at his home in Manitou, Oklahoma, at the age of 75 years and one month and 25 days. He was born November 5, 1940, at Hobart, Oklahoma, to John L. and Mae (Beeman) Ahrens. He grew up in and attended Hobart schools, graduated Hobart High School with the class of 1959. He enlisted in the United States Army Reserve on May 2, 1955 and served honorably until his discharge as a Sgt. (E-5), on May 1, 1963. While in the Army Reserve, he went through cook and baker school. He was united in marriage to Barbara Hollandsworth on June 5, 1960, at Hobart, Oklahoma. He worked as a Butcher at United in Hobart and Altus; then later Coy’s Supermarket at Frederick in 1968. He began a long distinguished career in law enforcement in 1973, going to work for the Frederick Police Department. In 1976, he worked as the Frederick Lake patrol and then went to work for the Tillman County Sheriff’s Department in 1990 and later served as the Sheriff. He later continued serving as a Sheriff’s Deputy; then went to work for the Tipton Police Department and for 15 years served as a security guard for the First National Bank. He continued to work for Tillman County Sheriff’s Department as a transport officer until his recent retirement. He was a member of the Frederick Jaycees when he was young. He was 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Frederick Masonic Blue Lodge #249, and he was a Baptist.             He is survived by his wife: Barbara Ahrens, of the home in Manitou, Oklahoma; three daughters: LaJonna Nobles and husband Jay, of Manitou, Oklahoma, Deidra Duke and husband Cecil, of Manitou, Oklahoma, and Trisha Proctor and husband Kyle, of Cary, North Carolina; two brothers: Lewis Ahrens and wife Louise, of Porter Hill (rural Lawton), Oklahoma, and Jerry Ahrens, of Sayre, Oklahoma; an aunt: Bea Ahrens, of Nebraska; five grandchildren: Amber Hansen and fiancé Travis, Tyler Saul, Michael Nobles and wife Courtney, Brandon Saul and wife Alison, and J. W. Duke; four great grandchildren: Nick, Zack, Beth and Stacey; two brothers-in-law: Merle Hollandsworth and wife Mary Beth, Frederick, Oklahoma, and Ted Hollandsworth and wife Jan, of Frederick, Oklahoma; a sister-in-law: Jane Hollandsworth, of Pueblo, Colorado; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of special family friends.Orr Gray Gish Funeral Home111 N. 11th StreetFrederick, OK 73542(580) 335-2112