Ahlert Anfinson

Ahlert Anfinson, age 87, of Decorah, Iowa died on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, WI, following a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 27, 2012, at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Road, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Mark Kvale presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00-11:00 a.m., on Monday morning at the church. There will be military rites at the graveside by the Helof Holm VFW Chapter #1977. Ahlert Arnold Anfinson was born on December 12, 1924, the son of Otto and Thelma (Torkelson) Anfinson, on the family farm near Ossian, IA. Ahlert was baptized on Jan. 11, 1925, and confirmed on July 7, 1940, both at the Stavanger Lutheran Church, rural Ossian, IA. Ahlert attended country school and served in the US Army from May 1945 to November 1946. He returned to farm and then married Alice Johnson on May 13, 1951, at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. Ahlert farmed the old Aase Haugen farm and neighboring farms for a few years. He also worked at DECO Products in Decorah, from 1965, until he retired in 1990. Ahlert enjoyed visiting with friends, playing cards at the Senior Meal site and attending many baseball and basketball games at Decorah High School. He also loved to watch baseball games on TV and was an avid Milwaukee Brewers fan. Ahlert was a member of the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church and a 50 year Farm Bureau member. Ahlert was known for his ability to remember dates of all his family members and was so proud to have spent the last few weeks celebrating his grandson, Tim’s wedding and to welcome his new wife, Kortney into the family. Ahlert is survived by his daughter: Mary Lou (Leo) Belz, Holmen, WI. Two grandsons: Tim (Kortney) Belz, Holmen, WI, and Sam Belz, Holmen, WI. Two brothers: Kermit (LaVonne) Anfinson, Ossian, IA, and Kenneth (Karlene) Anfinson, Ossian, IA. Five sisters-in-law: Betty Anfinson, Fayette, IA; Dixie Johnson, Luana, IA; LaRue Pennell, Mead, OK; Arlene Nelson, Wittenberg, WI; and JoAnn Meyer, Toledo, IA. One brother-in-law: Howard Johnson, Decorah, IA, along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces & nephews. Ahlert was preceded in death by his parents: Otto Anfinson on Aug. 23, 1977 and Thelma (Torkelson) Anfinson on Nov. 7, 1993. His wife: Alice (Johnson) Anfinson on December 31, 2001. His daughter: Marilyn Anfinson on Sept. 29, 1970. Two brothers: Ernest Anfinson on Dec. 12, 2007 and Wayne Anfinson on March 31, 2000. Three brothers-in-law: Morris Nelson, Arnold Johnson and Kenny Johnson. Two sisters-in-law: Marjorie (Erling) Fosaaen and LuVerne Johnson.