Erwin was born on 4 May 1918 at the Henry Gehling farm in Carroll County, Iowa. He was drafted into the army during WWII on 9 April 1943. He was sent to France after D-Day, and drove a supply truck. He returned home on 9 September 1945. He married Gertrude Brandt on 14 April 1947. They farmed in Iowa, first at Bayard, then at Gilmore City, finally at a farm they bought in Emmentsburg. Together they had three children:
1- Diane Marie Gehling (2 August 1948)
2- Dennis Erwin Gehling (16 June 1949)
3- Delbert Joseph Gehling (2 November 1951)