Alvin B. Erickson

Alvin B. Erickson, 94, Clermont, Iowa, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union, Iowa.

Funeral Services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the East Clermont Lutheran Church, rural Clermont. Rev. Ron Roberts was the officiant.

Friends were invited to call from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the church.

Interment was held in the East Clermont Lutheran Cemetery.

Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Clermont, assisted the family with the arrangements.

Alvin Benard, the son of Ben and Amanda (Baker) Erickson, was born June 14, 1920 on the family century farm northwest of Gunder. He was baptized and confirmed at East Clermont Lutheran Church. He attended the McKinley/McNeil Country School and Clermont High School. He also attended Tri-State College in Indiana. Alvin served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Alvin participated in the invasions of Kwajelein, Eniwetok, Saipan, and Okinawa in the Pacific Theater. After his discharge from the military, he returned to the family farm. He worked as a draftsman in Minneapolis for two winters, but mainly farmed with his father, brother, son and grandsons. Alvin was united in marriage with D’Elda Palas on June 29, 1949 at St. John Lutheran Church in Luana, Iowa. To this union two children, Matt and Gayle, were born.

         Alvin was a lifelong member of East Clermont Lutheran Church and he was a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed playing golf with the “Norwegian Foursome”, woodworking, reading, and politics. Alvin loved to fly and he earned his pilot’s license at the age of sixty-eight. He had a passion for writing about history and his observations of life.  Many of his "articles" were published in the Postville Herald and Elgin Echo. But most of all Alvin enjoyed being with his family and friends. He was a fun and loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle. As a proud grandfather, he loved attending the athletic and fine arts event of his grandchildren and his 2 great-grandchildren brought him immeasurable joy and delight.   

         Alvin is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, D’Elda, of Clermont; two children, Matt (Marty) Erickson of Postville; and Gayle Moore of Elgin; seven grandchildren, Nick Erickson, Jon (Jodi) Erickson, Amanda (Dave) Majkrzak, Jesse Moore, Erin Moore, Dylan Moore, and Dakota Moore; two great grandchildren, Sophia Kaye-Moore and Jace Majkrzak; and four sisters, Irene Speece of Novato, CA; Evelyn Peterson of Overland Park, KS; Lillian Lang of Lincoln, NE; and Dolores Koser of Cupertino, CA.

         Alvin was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Louie Erickson.

Condolences may be left with: www.graufuneralhomes.com