BORCHERT, Allen G. 1926-2005

BORCHERT, RAPPATH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 12/26/2011 at 22:22:23

Allen ‘Al’ G. Borchert

GRAFTON — Allen “Al” G. Borchert, 79, of rural Grafton, died on Saturday (Oct. 8, 2005) at the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton, with the Rev. Wayne Ellingson and Irmgard Ellingson, Associate in Ministry, officiating. Burial will be in the Grafton Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in St. Ansgar.

Allen was born April 25, 1926, to George and Arminda (Rappath) Borchert, in the same house his father and all of his father’s family was born in, in Union Township, rural Grafton. His grandparents were one of the first three settlers in Union Township in 1871. He was baptized and confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton. He attended Union No. 1 Country School which was located on the family farm east of Grafton.

He was proud of the fact that he completed his elementary education in seven years. As was the custom, he then took a year off of public school to attend parochial instruction at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton. He graduated from Grafton High School in 1943.

His love for sports developed early. At the age of 13, he was asked to play baseball on the high school team, standing in for an injured player. He continued to play throughout high school and following graduation played on several local independent baseball teams.

His love of sports continued on and he became involved with the local high school teams as a scorekeeper for many years. As a hobby, later in his life he compiled albums of local baseball history dating back from the late 1800s to the present.

He worked on the family farm following high school and then began a career in carpentry which spanned more than 50 years. Initially, he began working with new house construction and remodeling, and later specialized in interior work, such as cabinetry and ceramic tile and formica installation.

He was very meticulous in his work and had no tolerance for poor workmanship. He was very proud of his craftmanship, teaching many young people the art of the industry and admired the skilled workmanship of others. He remained on the family farm until it was necessary for him to enter the Good Samaritan Center three years ago. He took much pride in the fact that he was the third generation to live on the farm and spent much effort in keeping it in excellent condition.

He enjoyed hunting and trapping, antiques and especially the family dogs throughout the years. He will be remembered by his family for his dry sense of humor, his love of visiting with family and friends and for his determination to never give up or quit trying ... no matter how difficult the circumstances.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Warren Borchert.

He is survived by two sisters, Pearl White, of Mason City, and Ruby Krueger of Wickenburg, Ariz.; nieces and nephews.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, (641) 713-4920.

Globe Gazette, Oct. 11, 2005