Alvin Tietgen was born on September 9, 1917, in Sholes, Nebraska. He was the second eldest of seven children in his family, with four brothers and two sisters. He attended high school in Sholes and was on the baseball team. He could play any position, but usually he was the pitcher, first or second baseman. No  championships, but he did win several games and had fun.

He volunteered to serve in the Air Force during WWII. He was a crew chief on an airplane. The crew put in thousands of hours flying to places which included North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and England.

It was at a dance at King's Ballroom one night in 1945 when he met Valdene, the girl who would be his future bride. Alvin and Valdene were married on September 24, 1946. They had three children, two girls and one boy. Sadly, they have lost one daughter and their son. They have been blessed with four grandchildren.

After Alvin returned from service, he delivered fuel for an oil company in Wayne, Nebraska. He then moved his family to Norfolk and began a career in auto body work and construction. He later decided to try something new and took a job with 3M in Norfolk.

Some of Alvin's interests include dancing, playing cards, fishing, hunting deer, turkey and pheasant. He belongs to the VFW and is a life member of the American Legion. Alvin did not want to go a nursing home, and he very much appreciates that there are nice places like the Norfolk Veterans Home.

When asked about his greatest memory, he said "I'm 95 years old. I have a lot of memories, I can't pick just one." Alvin's words of wisdom are, "if you have a good job, keep it and work hard at it".  

NORFOLK — Services for Alvin Tietgen, 95, of Norfolk will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist church here with the Rev. Dr. James Brewer officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors by VFW Post 1644, American Legion Post 16 and the Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Brockhaus-Howser-Fillmer Funeral Home in Norfolk.

He died Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013, at the Norfolk Veterans Home. Per family request, memorials may be directed to the University of Nebraska Medical Center Grem Pancreatic Cancer Research, 987680 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-7680, or the First United Methodist Church, 406 West Phillip Ave, Norfolk, NE 68701.

———

Alvin Tietgen, son of Hans and Cecelia (Kruse) Tietgen, was born Sept. 9, 1917, at Sholes. He attended first through 12th grade at Sholes. Alvin joined the Air Force in 1942. He was a freight engineer stationed in England, North Africa, and numerous other places until his discharge in September of 1945. On Sept. 24, 1946, Alvin married Valdene Konopasek at the Presbyterian Church in Clarkson. To this union three children were born: Cheryl, Ronald and Connie.

During his career after the Air Force, Alvin was employed by the Ford Dealership, Hespe & Co., and retired with the 3M Company in 1988. He was a member of the American Legion Post 16 and VFW Post 1644 of Norfolk. Alvin was a kind and gentle person who loved fishing and hunting with his son, grandchildren and friends. His greatest joy was being with his family.

Survivors include wife, Valdene, of Norfolk; daughter, Connie (Don) Sixta of Pearland, Texas; four grandchildren, Sherry Sixta, Christine (Todd) Sixta Rinehart, Lauren Tietgen, and Jake Tietgen; daughter-in-law, Billie Tietgen of Omaha; sisters-in-law Mable Tietgen, Dorothy Tietgen and Shirley Tietgen; and brother-in-law, Melvin Ehrhardt.

Alvin was preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Cecelia; daughter Cheryl Tietgen in 1969; son Ronald Tietgen in 2012; four brothers, Grant Tietgen, Wayne Tietgen, Lee Tietgen and Donald Tietgen; two sisters, Gladys Van Auker and Irene Ehrhardt; and sister-in-law Laverne Tietgen.