AHRENS, Alvin "Al"

AHRENS, RUSH, TRETTIN, FLOY, BRUNSVOLD, STADTLANDER, SULLIVAN, CRUISE, WOLFE, RUSSELL, COLBURN, NEESE, ZEIGER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/28/2014 at 20:47:46

Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Obituary - Alvin "Al" Ahrens
July 16, 1916 ~ January 16, 2013

Alvin Ahrens, 96, of Thornton, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. Funeral services will be held 10:30 am, Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Thornton with Rev. Rhea Evanson presiding. Interment with Veteran's Honors by Anton-Juhl Post #440 American Legion will be at Pleasant View Cemetery, Thornton. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the services at the Church. Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church in Thornton or Hospice of North Iowa in his memory.

Alvin Ahrens was born on the family farm near West Union, Iowa, July 16, 1916, the first of seven children born to George and Lydia (Rush) Ahrens. He was baptized in the Lutheran church and educated in country schools. Living and working during the rough times of the depression Al worked and helped support his family. He eventually found himself working at an aircraft assembly plant in St. Louis working on turrets for B-17's.

Al entered the Army Air Force on March 30, 1943 and served with the 885th Bomber Squadron in Europe. While in the service he saved his pay andused it to purchase his parents a house in Oelwein, Iowa. After the war Al owned and operated a grocery store in Thornton from 1946 until 1963 when he converted the grocery store to an appliance store and renamed it, ‘Al's TV and Appliance.' He taught himself to do repairs on TV's and appliances and did attend seminars to improve his skills. He retired in 2001. Al was awarded his high school diploma through the military in a ceremony in 2001.

Al was united in marriage with Lois Trettin in 1951. They were blessed with a daughter, Janette, and at 50 years of age he and Lois adopted a baby, Michelle. Lois passed away in 1971. On January 14, 1979 Al married Iona Floy Brunsvold at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They continued to live and work in Thornton.

Al was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Thornton. He enjoyed fishing, traveling, dancing and every weekday at 3pm he would be found checking the stock market. Naturally outgoing and friendly when he met people he was genuinely interested in finding out where they were from and what they did. Al enjoyed his time at Willow Pointe Assisted Living. He and Iona enjoyed playing bingo with their friends. He also appreciated the wonderful care the staff provided for him.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 34 years: Iona; daughters: Janette (Jerry) Stadtlander, Belmond; Michelle Ahrens, Minnetonka, MN; Cherri (David) Sullivan, Colorado Springs, CO; grandchildren: Shawn (Sara) Sullivan; Corie (Mark) Cruise; great grandchildren: David and Leah Sullivan; Lee, Gabrielle and Christian Cruise; sisters: Olive ‘Ollie' Wolfe, Maynard, IA; Glendora Russell, Davenport, IA; brothers: Lee Allen ‘Bud' Ahrens, Davenport, IA; Don Ahrens, Independence, IA; special friend: Jack Colburn, Mason City and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, first wife: Lois, sister: Dorothy Neese; brother: Burdell ‘Burt' Ahrens and step-son: Bradley Zeiger.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2014