Gretchen L. Alvestad (1934-2007)

ALVESTAD, KOKEMILLER, GERTSEN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 12/23/2007 at 14:49:19

The Story City Herald, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, August 22, 2007.

Gretchen L. Alvestad passed away Monday, August 13, 2007 in Des Moines. She was born in Boone, Iowa on Oct. 18, 1934, the daughter of George and Gertrude Kokemiller. She grew up on a farm in Boone County and was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in northwest Boone County, where she was baptized, attended parochial school through eighth grade, was confirmed and married.

She graduated from Story City High School in 1953 and married Wayne Alvestad of Jewell, Iowa on August 16, 1953 and moved to Denver, CO where her husband was stationed in the US Air Force.

They have one son, Pastor Jeff, who is married to Candace and after serving at St. Mark Lutheran Church in West Des Moines since 1999 recently moved to Houston, Texas to serve at Kinsmen Lutheran. Gretchen has one sister, Ruth Ann Gertsen of Story City; two brothers, Fred (Shirley) of rural Madrid and David (deceased) (Linda) of Luther, Iowa.

Gretchen was very active in her church, Zion Lutheran, and was involved in many other activities, especially the Storybook Project for residents of the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women at Mitchellville whose children receive a tape of their mother's voice reading a book and the book itself.

She also liked working Cursillo weekends, later called Via de Cristo. She was at times on different boards and engaged in Bible studies.

Gretchen requested to be cremated and no viewing of her body. Memorial services were held at Zion Lutheran Church, 4300 Beaver Avenue in Des Moines on Thursday, August 16 at 10 a.m. The family greeted friends at the church from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 15.

The very recently- retired former longtime pastor of Zion, Robert Solberg, officiated, due to the absence of Zion's Pastor, John Kline, with assistance from son, Pastor Jeff Alvestad; Pastor. Rick Miller, a member of Gretchen and Wayne's monthly Bible study; and Pastor Dean Hoferer, retired former long-time pastor at Zion.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp, Story City or to the Storybook Project of Iowa.

Let it be known Gretchen was a believer in Jesus Christ and a doer for him, thanks in large part to the Kennedy Evangelism Program of which she and Wayne were a part in the mid 1970s and later where they called on newcomers and others and presented the Gospel.