Alvin Otto Kutschinski

KUTSCHINSKI

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 1/24/2007 at 09:25:20

Kutschinski, Alvin Otto
April 27, 1913 - January 13, 2007
Denison Bulletin/Review
1/19/2007
(posted with permission)

Alvin Otto Kutschinski was born April 27, 1913, the son of Carl and Louise Jahn Kutschinski. He died at his home in Charter Oak on Saturday, January 13, 2007, at the age of ninety-three.

Alvin grew up on the family farm near Charter Oak, being baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church and receiving his education in both a rural school near his home and at St. John Lutheran School in Charter Oak. He worked on the farm for a time before entering the U.S. Army in 1942, and receiving his honorable discharge in 1945. He served as a surgical technician in northern France, Central Europe, the Rhineland, and the Ardennes. He was decorated with four bronze stars for those campaigns, the good conduct medal and the distinguished unit badge.

He was united in marriage to Dorothy Wiese at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. They settled in Charter Oak and were blessed with two daughters. Alvin was employed as a mechanic for Bob Butler and Clarence Kortman at the John Deere Implement Company in Charter Oak and later in construction for Don Friedrichs. He then worked in the maintenance department at Midwestern College and the Crawford County Memorial Hospital and as a custodian at St. John Lutheran Church. He was a faithful employee wherever he worked. Alvin was a life long member of St. John Lutheran Church, where he was a voting member, served as an elder and superintendent of the Bible Class. He was a member of the American Legion Homer Hall Post 66 in Charter Oak, a long-time member of the Charter Oak Commercial Club, and was also a member of the Happiness Express since 1966. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, who in his leisure time, enjoyed fixing things for his grandchildren and around the house.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Erna Friedrichs and Olinda Schultz; two brothers Arthur and Elmer; one son-in-law, Norman D. Christensen and one grandson, Scot E. Christensen. Survivors include: his wife, Dorothy of Charter Oak; two daughters, Karen Christensen of Coralville, Iowa and Linda Nepper and her husband, Allen of Charter Oak; three grandchildren: Allison Nepper Hales and her husband, David of Flower Mound, Texas; Megan Robertson and her husband, Andrew of Portland, Oregon; Greg Christensen and his wife, Kim of Coralville; three great-grandchildren, James, Jordan and Elle Christensen all of Coralville; one sister, Irene Lee of Denison and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak, Iowa. Rev. Richard Merrill officiated the services and grave side rites held at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens in Denison. Art Beeck served as organist and soloist for the service music, "Now the Shades of Night Are Gone," "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," and "I'm But A Stranger Here." Those serving as pallbearers were Don Friedrichs, Kyle Schultz, Bill Magill, Kevin Clausen, Earl Schultz, and Ken Lally. Military Honors were provided by the American Legion Homer Hall Post 66 of Charter Oak, Iowa. A prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday evening at the Huebner Funeral Home in Charter Oak. The family invited everyone in attendance to join them in fellowship and lunch served by the Ladies Aid. The Huebner Funeral Home in Charter Oak was in charge of the arrangements.