Alvin Andersen

80, World War II veteran

Alvin H. Andersen, 80, of Grand Island died Thursday, April 24, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Messiah Lutheran Church in Grand Island. The Rev. David W. Zellmer will officiate. Burial will be Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors provided by the Alda-Wood River VFW.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul.

Mr. Andersen was born Oct. 13, 1922, on the family farm near Dannebrog to Hans and Hulda (Johnson) Andersen.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Jean of Grand Island; a son and daughter-in-law, Randal and Janelle of Lincoln; a daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Mike Coleman of Grand Island; and a sister and brother-in-law, Hazel and Raymond Lemburg of Grand Island.

He is also survived by five grandchildren, Chris Coleman, Amanda Coleman, Dustin Andersen, Katherine Andersen and Olivia Andersen; a great-grandson, Dakota Harders; and several nieces and nephews.

He received his education at District 31 School in Howard County and then Boelus High School. He then went to Chicago and worked in a tool and dye company.

He then entered the U.S. Army in June 1944. He served in World War II, serving in the European Theater. He received his discharge in June 1946.

He then returned to Chicago after the war and worked in the tool and dye company. He later farmed in the western part of Nebraska. He then returned to Dannebrog and worked at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant.

He was united in marriage to Donna Christensen on April 14, 1957, in Hastings. They lived in Grand Island where he worked for Fairmont Foods. When the Grand Island plant closed, he was transferred to the plant in North Platte where he worked for 2 1/2 years. He returned to farm at Dannebrog and also worked at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant. They lived at Cairo for 10 years where he worked for the Hall County Housing Authority and later at the Grand Island Veterans Home where he was in charge of the woodworking shop. They moved to Grand Island and he continued to work at the veterans home. He retired in October 1988 and continued to live in Grand Island.

Alvin was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church and the Platt-Duetsche, both of Grand Island. He enjoyed fishing and playing cards.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret Frimann and Marian Jensen, and a brother, Lloyd Andersen.

Memorials are suggested to the church.