ALLEY, Walter Vern, Jr. 1924-2007

ALLEY, ESTALLA, HEIMERMAN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/7/2012 at 12:16:26

#1:

Walter Vern Alley, 82 formerly of Libertyville, [Illinois] died Saturday, August 25, 2007 in Racine, Wisconsin.

He was born November 17, 1924, the eldest of five children of Susan Estalla and Walter Alley, Sr.

He grew up on a farm in Riceville, Iowa, and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II.

He was married to Rita Heimerman for 52 years until her death in 2002. They raised four children.

He was mechanically skilled, creative and innovative, and he enjoys solving technical challenges. He graduated from Iowa's date and later received his Masters degree from Bradley University. Later he cited one of his biggest at peace as throwing things away. He described himself as a do-it-yourselfer.

He loved cars, and he loved teaching. At the start of his career, he taught high school and college, teaching at General Motors Institute and Ferris State College. During those years he co-authored several textbooks for the automotive industry. He transitioned into training for the automotive industry and moved to Libertyville in 1962. Over his career, he became one of the industries top training experts, funding and directing the Midas Institute of Technology. In 1991, he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. He was widely recognized as one of the automotive industries top training experts and a pioneer in the use of video training.

He was an active member of the first ASIA Educational Committee, the Technical Training Council sponsored by MEMA and was a board member of the Automotive Training Manager's Council.

He cherished his many) and was active in the community, St. Joseph's Catholic Church and volunteer activities. He developed a volunteer program at the local hospital to repair wheelchairs and hospital equipment, and volunteer as part of the Retired Executive Service Corps to provide training in Malawi, Africa.

He was a devoted husband and supported his wife throughout her years with ALS. He also was dedicated to his family. During his last few years, he lived near his children.

Survivors include his loving children and their spouses: Scot (Pamela) Alley, Gregory (Joanne) Alley, Susan (Ralph) Monge and Mary Ruth (Alexander) Velicki; 10 grandchildren: Winona, Joshua, Jonathan, Jeffrey, Michael, John, Lia, Alana, Alex and Katherine; five great-grandchildren, Caleb, Kennedy, Jaedon, Audrey, and Samuel; and four siblings, Phillip Alley, Adrienne Schweers, Bill Alley and Richard Alley.

The funeral was held on Saturday, September 1, at St. Joseph Church. Interment with military honors was in Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville.

Memorials are requested to be made to either the American Diabetes Association, or to the ALS Foundation.

[Source: Obituary scrapbook at Riceville Public Library]

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#2:

Walter Vern Alley Jr.
Formerly of Libertyville

Funeral services for Mr. Walter Vern Alley Jr., 82, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at McMurrough Funeral Chapel, Ltd., 101 Park Place (Route 176, one block east of Milwaukee Ave.), Libertyville, then proceed to St. Joseph Church, 121 E. Maple, Libertyville, for a Mass at 10 a.m. Interment with military honors will be in Ascension Cemetery, Libertyville. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at the funeral home.

Born Nov. 17, 1924, the eldest of five children born to Susan Estella and Walter Alley Sr., he passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, in Racine, Wis.

Mr. Alley grew up on a farm in Riceville, Iowa, and served in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He was married to Rita Heimerman for 52 years until Rita's passing in 2002. They raised four children, Scot, Gregory, Susan and Mary Ruth.

Walt was mechanically skilled, creative, innovative and enjoyed solving technical challenges. He graduated from Iowa State and later received his master's degree from Bradley University. Walt loved cars and he loved teaching. At the start of his career he taught high school and college, teaching at General Motors Institute and Ferris State College. During these years he co-authored several textbooks in the automotive industry. He transitioned into training for the automotive industry and moved to Libertyville in 1962.

Over his career Walt became one of the industry's top training experts, founding and directing the Midas Institute of Technology. In 1991, he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. When receiving this award he said, "I loved the automobile and I also loved talking about it. I'm a car person and I recognized quickly that the chance to talk about cars is a great way to spend a life."

Rita and Walt cherished their many close friends and were very active in the community, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and volunteer activities. Walt developed a volunteer program at the local hospital to repair wheelchairs and hospital equipment, and volunteered as part of the Retired Executive Service Corps to provide training in Malawi, Africa.

Walt was a devoted husband and supported Rita throughout her years with ALS. He was also dedicated to his family and during his last few years, he lived near his children.

He is survived by his loving children and their spouses: Scot (Pamela) Alley , Gregory (Joanne) Alley, Susan (Ralph) Monge and Mary Ruth (Alexander) Velicki; his grandchildren, Winona, Joshua, Jonathan, Jeffrey, Michael, John, Lia, Alana, Alex and Katherine; great-grandchildren, Caleb, Kennedy, Jaedon, Audrey and Samuel; and his siblings, Phillip Alley, Adrienne Schweers, Bill Alley and Richard Alley. "We will all miss him dearly."

If desired, memorials to American Diabetes Association, 30 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60602 or A.L.S. Foundation, 6909 W. North Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53213, would be greatly appreciated. For information, 847-362-2626.

[ Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on August 29, 2007 ]

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Photo of Walter Alley from the same newspaper clipping as the #1 obituary above.

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