HARRENSTEIN, Alvin 1919-2011

HARRENSTEIN, TERFEHN, KALVIG

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:14

Alvin Harrenstein, age 92, of the Luther Manor Nursing Home in Dubuque, Iowa, and formerly of Waverly, died peacefully on August 8, 2011, from natural causes.

Alvin Harrenstein was born on February 16, 1919, in Wellsburg, Iowa, the son of Herman and Alice (Terfehn) Harrenstein. Alvin attended the Wellsburg School System, graduating in 1937 from Wellsburg High School.

Following his schooling, Alvin worked as a Brakeman for the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad Company. On April 29, 1942, he entered the U.S. Army for the duration of WWII, were he served as a Station Master/Conductor with the Army 713th Railroad Operators Battalion. Al served overseas in Tunisia, Naples, Rome, Southern France, Rhineland, and Germany, before he was honorably discharged on September 1, 1945.

Following his return home, Al went back to work for the railroad and on June 22, 1947, was united in marriage to Deloris Maxine Kalvig in Kanawha, Iowa. Al continued his work as a Railroad Brakeman and Conductor working for two companies: Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad and most recently the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad until he retired in 1980. Al and Deloris raised their children in Hampton, Iowa, and ten years ago made their home in Waverly until January of 2011, when they both became residents of the Luther Manor Retirement Center in Dubuque.

He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waverly. In his spare time Al enjoyed fishing, grilling out, woodworking, reunions with fellow veterans, and family gatherings. He was a devoted uncle and grandfather.

Al is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Deloris Harrenstein, currently residing in Dubuque, Iowa; his son, David A. Harrenstein of Lanesboro, Minnesota; his daughter, K. Diane Struck and her husband, Stephen of Dubuque; two grandsons, Jon and Benjamin Drury of Dubuque; two sisters, Marjory Teasdale and her husband, Tom of Grundy Center, Iowa and Lavonne Kruse of Iowa Falls, Iowa; one brother, Dennis Harrenstein of Ackley, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Elaine Hegland (Ames, Iowa) and Iola Kalvig (Des Moines, Iowa), Delores Kalvig (Billings, Montana); and a brother-in-law, Alvin Kalvig (Black Duck, Minnesota). He is also survived by nieces and nephews, many who fondly remember him as "Uncle Elf".

Al was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Esther Mueller and Mabel Claassen; and a brother, Harris Harrenstein, all of Wellsburg, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 16, 1:00 PM at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waverly, with Pastor Phillip Olson officiating. Public visitation will be held on Monday, August 15 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly, and from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM on Tuesday the 16th at the church.

Following the church service, military rites will be conducted at the church by the American Legion Post #176 of Waverly. Alvin's body will then be cremated and burial will be held at a later date in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Waverly. Memorials may be directed to the Redeemer Lutheran Church, or Luther Manor; Dubuque, Iowa. Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly is assisting the family.

--Kaiser Corson Funeral Homes (www.kaisercorson.com)