Einar John Ahysen, Sr., 81, of Beaumont, died Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at Atria Collier Park, Beaumont.  He was born on January 17, 1932, in Port Arthur, to Edna Thibodeaux Ahysen and John Peter Ahysen, and had been a longtime resident of Beaumont. Einar attended Catholic schools and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School (Port Arthur ISD). On March 9, 1951, he married Barbara Jo Warren of Beaumont. 

Shortly thereafter, Einar joined the armed forces and proudly served his country as a member of the United States Air Force.  During the Korean War, he was trained and served for eighteen months as an Air Traffic Controller, in Tokyo, Japan.  He loved to share the highlight of his tour of duty, which was the day that he had the honor and privilege of controlling the plane that brought Bob Hope to Korea to entertain the United States Troops.

After four years of service to his country, he was honorably discharged with recognitions including metals for national defense, good conduct and sharpshooting.  Through his marriage to Barbara, four children were born: Einar John, Jr., Donald Patton, David Anthony, and Mary Robyn.   During this time, Einar attended Lamar University and became an electrician based in the Beaumont area.  He also completed contract work assignments in Arizona and Nevada working on nuclear defense system installations during the cold war era. Einar transitioned from “working with his tools” as an electrician, to becoming an electrical estimator for Eldridge Electric and later for Newtron Electric Company based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Einar was a member of IBEW Local #479, and was always proud to display his fifty year recognition pin.

On August 1, 1975, he married Nancy Carroll Grimes and became the father of two additional children through marriage, Gina Carroll Grimes and Troy Tollivar Grimes. He continued to work as an estimator until he retired from Newtron Electric in the mid 1990’s. After his retirement, Einar and Nancy moved to their dream home on Lake Palestine near Tyler, Texas where they fostered many new friendships.  Einar’s family of six children continued to grow to include two sons-in-law, Lee Acevedo and Mike Peurifoy; and two daughters-in-law, Staci Grimes and Jami Ahysen; eleven grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family members and friends.

Einar was a practicing Christian. He was christened at birth in the Roman Catholic Church. He later served in the Baptist Church.  After that, he became a member of the United Methodist Church and was elected a trustee and a servant wherever he was needed.  Once they moved to the Tyler area, Nancy and Einar continued to grow in, and contribute to, their Christian walk through their affiliation with First United Methodist Church - Bullard.  They were very involved in community outreach, church expansion and ministry. They helped establish a local food pantry, constructed a children’s playground and helped with church maintenance and operational decisions for the duration of their membership.  After ten years on the lake, health issued began to develop, and Einar and Nancy returned to Beaumont to be closer to family, and resided at Atria Collier Park until he went home to the Lord on Wednesday, April 24, 2013.  Einar’s family and friends will sorely miss him, and look forward to being re-united in heaven.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Chilton Ahysen; children: Robyn Ahysen Peurifoy and her husband, Mike, of Beaumont; Johnny Ahysen of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Donny Ahysen and his wife, Jami, of Bay City; David Ahysen of Beaumont; Troy Grimes and his wife, Staci; and Gina Acevedo and her husband, Lee; grandchildren, John David (J.D.) (Eagle Scout) and his wife, Melinda, of Hempstead; Chris Peurifoy (U.S. Navy) and his wife, Jennifer, of San Diego, California; Chris Holliday and his wife, Savannah, of Bay City; Jeremy Holliday of Corpus Christi; Brianne Martinez and her husband, Nelson, of Bay City; and James Reid Adams (Eagle Scout) of Corpus Christi; Tolivar Grimes; Rylie Grimes, Nick Acevedo; Aaron Acevdo; and Bubba Acevedo; great-grandchildren; Mary Morgan “Morgie” Ahysen, Nick and Elena Peurifoy, Tayler and Noah Martinez, C. J., Aidan, Olivia, and Paisley Holliday, Desaray and Raymond Milligan, Derrek Stone, Caleb, Kameron, Hayden, Brandon, Alyssa, Blain, Kyle, Adam, Conner, Tylea, Zoe, and Tristian Acevedo; and several nieces and nephews. 

A gathering of Mr. Ahysen’s family and friends will begin at 2:00 p.m., with his funeral service at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, April 28, 2013, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His committal will be at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.  A memorial service for interment of Mr. Ahysen’s cremated body will be scheduled at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Bullard, Texas 75757; Texas Home Health Hospice, 5683 East Texas Freeway, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713.