Alvin Harold Vick

Alvin H. Vick, age 100, of Decorah, IA died on Sunday morning, November 15, 2009 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah from complications of a stroke. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah by Rev. Bryan Robertson with burial in Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at Aase Haugen Home on Wednesday. Alvin Harold Vick was born February 27, 1909, the sixth of Erick and Henrietta (Hegtvedt) Vick's nine children, on the Vick family farm near Calmar. He attended District School #1 in Calmar Township, and he also attended Luther Prep School, Luther College in Decorah and Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. Alvin was united in marriage to Olga Ruen on September 1, 1940 and they were later divorced. During WW II Alvin served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1945, and was recruited for the 99th Norwegian Battalion (nicknamed "Norsemen of the Northwest") as an interpreter. He served in England, Germany, France and Norway. He landed on Omaha Beach and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. In February of 2009 he was recognized as the oldest World War II veteran of Winneshiek County. Following his Army service he returned to Decorah and made his living by doing odd jobs of home repairs, building and painting. He had been a member of Decorah Lutheran Church and the VFW. He enjoyed photography, traveling, and he had a passion for knowledge, continuing to read even while at Aase Haugen Home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Erick and Henrietta Vick; his four sisters: Carolla Miyoshi, Alice Boehm, Charlotte Hexom and Ileen Gilday; four brothers: Conrad, Allard, Elmer and Harry Vick. Alvin is survived by his four nephews: Donald (Norma) Halse of Decorah, IA, John "Jack" (Sue) Boehm, of Decorah, IA, Duane Vick of Charles City, IA, and Harrison Brown of Austin, MN; six nieces: Lois (Ray) Ambrose of Jacksonville, FL, Charilyn (Ed) Hover of Decorah, IA, Carol (Dean) Ashmore of Fennimore, WI, Linda (Charlie) Lott of Waterloo, IA, Dorothy Brooks of Decorah, IA, and Harriet (Les) Leidahl of Decorah, IA; along with many great nieces and nephews.