Sheeler, Alvin Carl 1912-1994

SHEELER, MCFARLIN, MCCURRY, CARSTENS, SPRINGER, KEEFE, WASSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/26/2009 at 06:47:17

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; March 21, 1994

ALVIN SHEELER

Alvin Carl Sheeler, 81, of Grinnell, a long-time volunteer firefighter who portrayed Santa Claus for many years, died Saturday, March 19, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services were conducted Monday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Daniel Ogata, pastor of the Malcom Presbyterian Church, officiating. Organist was Margaret Wheeler, and pallbearers were Jerry Barns, Wayne Callison, Kenneth Conner, Giles Jay, Larry Peebles and Pat White. Honorary bearers were members of the Grinnell Fire Department and the Poweshiek County Fire Association.

Graveside rites were conducted by members of the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit, with burial in Hazelwood Cemetery.

The son of Carl and Hazel McFarlin Sheeler, he was born Sept. 14, 1912, in Platte, S.D. The family moved to Montezuma where he attended school. He served with the U.S. Army as a military policeman during World War II.

On Oct. 26, 1945, he was married to Evelyn McCurry in Grinnell. Mr. Sheeler worked as a lineman for GTE. He was a former member of the Grinnell City Council.

Surviving are is wife; two daughters, Linda Carstens of Des Moines and Susan Springer of Lake Forest, Calif.; one grandson; and one sister, Alene Keefe of Waynesboro, Va.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Virginia Wasson; and infant twins, Donald and Genevieve McFarlin.