Alvin Eldon Boelman

Alvin Eldon Boelman, 72, of 2047 Hunters Ridge, died Saturday, November 5, 2005 surrounded by his loving family at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit after a long and courageous bout with cancer. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Rev. Samuel Hamilton-Poore officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Full Military rites will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Memorials may be given to the Alvin Boelman Memorial Fund. Alvin was born February 4, 1933 in Meservey, Iowa the son of Henry and Jennie (Pals) Boelman. He grew up on the family farm and attended school in Meservey, graduating from Meservey High School in 1950. Following high school, he was employed by Central Telephone Company until he joined the U.S. Army. Al served in the Army from 1953 to 1955 in Korea. Following his discharge, Al joined Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1955 as a cable splicer. He retired April 1, 1986 as an Outside Plant Engineer with U.S. West. He contracted back to U.S. West for nine years following his retirement. Al was united in marriage on December 22, 1956 to Jeannette (Jan) Dahl at Baldwin, Wisconsin. They became parents of two daughters, Kristin Stradleigh of Phoenix, Arizona and Mary Oien of Boone, Iowa. Al and his wife enjoyed traveling following his retirement. He enjoyed their trip to Norway and a cruise to the Carribean. After wintering in Arizona, Florida and Texas they settled down the past fifteen winters in Palm Desert, California. Al was an avid golfer and enjoyed attending winter golf tournaments in California as well as playing the game himself almost daily, nearly year round. He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served on various boards and was a captain of ushers, serving his church faithfully for over thirty years. He was a humble and unassuming man who was very well liked by all who knew him. He prided himself on his hard work ethic and everything he did was done to perfection. Al enjoyed helping others whenever he could, asking nothing in return. He was a good role model for his children and grandchildren, a faithful and supportive friend and a steady and loving presence in his home. Al was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was so loved and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Al is survived by his wife, Jan of Mason City; two daughters, Kristin (Norman) Stradleigh of Phoenix, Arizona, Mary (Fred) Oien of Boone, Iowa; two grandchildren, John Morris Oien of Brookings, South Dakota and Mary Ruth Oien, a student at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa; two brothers, Norman (Julane) Boelman of Meservey, Iowa, Dennis (Miriam) Boelman of Belmond, Iowa, as well as numerous other relatives and friends. Al was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Jennie (Pals) Boelman of Meservey, Iowa

Visitation:
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on November 8, 2005 (map/driving directions) 5:30 PM to 5:30 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on November 5, 2005 (map/driving directions)

Service:
10:30 AM at on November 9, 2005 (map/driving directions)