Ervin Walter Kahl, 91, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Britt, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2005, after a brief stay in the Hospice unit in the Dickinson County Regional Hospital located in Spirit Lake.  He was surrounded by his family. Ervin Kahl was currently living in Spirit Lake.  He was a long time resident of Britt, Iowa, later Clear Lake, Iowa and Minnetonka, Minnesota.  Ervin was born February 27, 1914, in Malta, Illinois.  He later moved to Mason City and in 1931, moved to Britt with his brother Neil and his parents, Walter and Nellie Kahl.  He attended school in Mason City and graduated from Britt High School in 1932, and attended the University of Iowa.  In 1938, Ervin married Elizabeth (Betty) Nix from Britt.  Together they farmed in the Britt community for over 50 years and were members of First Lutheran Church in Britt and Galilean Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. Ervin enjoyed contributing to his community.  He served as the Rural School Director for Erin Township #2 and as president and board member of the Britt Public Schools.  He also served on the board of the Britt Co-op, Britt Creamery, the Hancock County Care Center, the Britt Country Club and Golf Course, and served as a director for the 1st State Bank in Britt for 19 years.  Ervin was also president and treasurer of the Hancock/Winnebago County Arc Association for People With Disabilities for 22 years.  He also served as president of the Hancock County Farm Bureau.  After moving to Clear Lake, Iowa he became a member and officer of the Ventura Lion Club. Ervin enjoyed piloting his single engine plane in his early years, then fishing and then golf and more golf. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Betty) and daughters: Karmon Amsler and husband, John from Sioux City, Iowa, Mona Jean Kahl from Spirit Lake, Iowa (a son Lon Ervin Kahl died in 1983) and granddaughter, Shonda Warner, London, England and grandson, Trenton Warner and Susan Stone and great-granddaughter, Ridley, El Cerrito, California. He is also survived by niece and nephews: Marsha Peterson and husband Paul, Britt, Iowa; Gary Kahl and wife Katie, Clear Lake, Iowa; Bob Kahl and wife Lavonne, Florida and their families: sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Mildred Phillips and husband Lyle, Bella Vista, Arkansas; Geneva King, Evansville, Indiana and many cherished nieces and nephews; step-grandchildren: John and Mary Amsler, Davidsonvilee, Maryland, Greg and Chell Amsler, Stevenson Ranch, California; Paige and Dar Sampson, Libertyville, Illinois, and their families. He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Nellie Kahl, son Lon Ervin Kahl and brother Neil Kahl. Ervin will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and treasured friend to many.