GOLDHORN, Alvin E., Rev. 1914 - 2003

GOLDHORN, PETERS, WILLEMSSEN

Posted By: K. Kittleson (email)
Date: 7/31/2007 at 21:27:51

Rev. Alvin E. Goldhorn, 88, of Cherokee, Iowa passed away Friday April 11, 2003 at 10:45 p.m. at his home in Cherokee.

He was born November 28, 1914 in Castlewood, South Dakota to Eilert and Kate (Peters) Goldhorn. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, Margaret and Ben Goldhorn following the untimely death of his mother in 1915.

He attended rural school in Lyon County and high school in George, Iowa, graduating in 1933. He attended Central College in Pella, Iowa majoring in Business Administration and graduating in 1938. One June 22, 1938, he married Vera Willemssen at her parents' home in George, Iowa.

Rev. Goldhorn received his religious education starting at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan for one year and transferring to the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary from which he graduated in 1942. He was ordained into the Presbyterian Ministry on April 16, 1941, beginning a lifetime of Christian service.

Rev. Goldhorn was a member of Prospect Hill Presbytery. He served as pastor of Prairie Dell Presbyterian Church at Shannon, Illinois for five years, First Presbyterian Church at Virginia, Illinois for one year, Zion Presbyterian Church at Ellsworth, Minn. for six years, First Presbyterian Church at Redwood Falls, Minn. for 10 years, and the Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cherokee, Iowa for 17 years, retiring on April 1, 1978 as Pastor Emeritus.

Following his retirement, he served as moderator for First Presbyterian Church in Paullina, Mt. Pleasant and Cleghorn Presbyterian, and First Presbyterian at LeMars, Iowa and Fonda, Iowa. During his ministry he served on numerous committees and councils of the Presbyterian Church, the Board of Directors of the University of Dubuque and various Ecumenical groups. He was past President of the Cherokee Ministerial Association, and was a ministerial representative, former member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Cherokee Rotary Club, having served as secretary-treasurer. He enjoyed woodworking.

Rev. Goldhorn was a member of Speculative Lodge #307 A.F. & A.M. and former member of Antiquity Lodge #91 in Redwood Falls, Minn. He received his 50-year certificate in 2002. He was a Knights Templar, a member of Crusade Commandery 39 and served as Commander in 1967, Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery in 1968, 1970 and 1978, Grand Standard Bearer in 1971, and as Eminent Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery of the State of Iowa for two years. He was a member of the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple.

He was preceded in death by his parents, the parents who raised him, a granddaughter, one sister Margaret Woods, and two brothers Peter and John Goldhorn.

He is survived by his wife, Vera and four children: Fae Bergman and her husband Loren of Mointain Grove, Missori; Noreen Moody of Window Rock, Arizona; Paul Goldhorn and his wife Martha of Beckenham, Kent, United Kingdom; Vivian Schleef and her husband Joseph of Cherokee, Iowa; 5 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 5 step-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Hermina Wilson of Santa Ana, California; Jane Rose of Castlewood, S.D.; a sister-in-law Lois Goldhorn of Castlewood, S.D.

Submitted by Sherrilyn Klaassen