Alan M. Dodge

Mason City Alan M. Dodge, 83, of Mason City, died Saturday, February 21, 2009 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Monday, February 23, 2009 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. A family interment will be at the First Lutheran Cemetery in St. Ansgar on Tuesday morning with Full Military Honors by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alan Dodge memorial fund.\r\n
Alan was born May 7, 1925 in Osage, IA, the son of Irving and Edna (Robertson) Dodge. He attended school in Osage through 6th grade before moving to Mason City. He graduated from Mason City High School and continued his education at the Hamilton School of Business and Purdue University. Alan proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1943 until 1945. He fought in WWII. He married Naida Lee on September 20, 1946. She died in 1959. On December 4, 1960, he married Margaret Nesje in Mason City. Alan sold State Farm Insurance for 43 years. He loved his work and enjoyed helping many families with their insurance needs. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, N.I. Association of Life Underwriters, Relay for Life, American Legion, V.F.W. and the Moose Lodge. He was also very involved in the Mason City Exchange Club where he was past president. Alan also worked with Hospice and spent a lot of time with volunteer work. He was very active and a strong believer in the community. He enjoyed spending time with his family. He also enjoyed playing golf and following the Iowa Hawkeyes.\r\n
He is survived by his wife of 48 years: Margaret Dodge of Mason City; his children: Mark Dodge and wife Ann of Mason City, John Dodge and wife Amy of Mason City, David Dodge and wife Nancy of Duncan, SC, Julie Birdsall and husband Tom of Mason City, Jane Browning and husband Tim of Brainerd, MN, Vickie Gay and husband Tom of Wyoming, MN.\r\n
He will be sadly missed by his 18 grandchildren: Matthew Dodge and wife CJ, Michael Dodge, Nathaniel Dodge and wife Jessica, Aaron Dodge and wife Laura, Brian Gay and wife Sara, Alison Gay, Sally Berding and husband Herman, Alicia Lief and husband Corey, Sonja Gill and husband Sanjay, Corby Dodge, Daniel Dodge, Paul Birdsall, Megan Birdsall, Joseph Browning and wife Rana, Adam Browning, Ryan Browning and wife Deanna, Brooke Dodge, and Kristen Dodge; 11 great grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law: Joan Dodge of Phoenix, AZ and Florence Hunt of Kingwood, TX He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. \r\n
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: John and Merlin Dodge.