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Alvin H. Wiechman Obituary – 12/6/2018


Alvin Henry Wiechman, age 88, of Stewart, passed away Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson.

He was born Aug. 21, 1930, in Jackson, the son of Albert John and Hilda (Bohlken) Wiechman. Alvin was baptized as an infant at the Rost Township Church near Lakefield, MN, and confirmed in his faith as a youth at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Worthington.

Alvin grew up in the Worthington area, where he attended school through the eighth grade. The family later settled in the Cosmos area. Alvin studied and received his High School Certification as an adult.

He served his country in the U S Army, joining in January of 1955, with basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO; and later transferred to Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, WA. Alvin received an Honorable Medical Discharge in November 1955.

He was united in marriage to Eunice Radtke Oct. 13, 1957, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cedar Mills. This union of 46 years was blessed with six children: Wendy, Dwight, Allan, Donna, Sara, and Wade. Alvin and Eunice made their home in the Stewart, area.

Alvin worked many different jobs in his life, finally settling on his passion for farming.

He and Eunice enjoyed traveling, and most of all, spending time with family and friends. Alvin especially enjoyed his trips to North Dakota, South Dakota, the Grand Canyon, New Mexico, southern Texas, and Washington, DC and the surrounding area.

He enjoyed good conversation, and was quick to crack jokes. An avid reader, Alvin’s favorite topics were American history, Native American history and culture, westerns, Readers’ Digest, and National Geographic magazine. He also liked watching sports on television.

Alvin was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart. He was also an active member of the De Gree-Fleisch American Legion Post 125 of Stewart, and faithfully joined those members providing funeral military honors for his fellow comrades.

After the passing of Eunice in 2003, Alvin started attending area senior dance get-togethers, where he met his special friend and companion, Elsie Gilster. They have shared 13 years of close friendship, attending old time dances in the area and visiting with many friends.

Alvin was very excited and always happy when he could drive his John Deere 60 in local antique tractor pulls, boasting that over the years, he had received over 90 trophies. In late October of this year, the Wiechmans had a small family outing where Alvin and the kids went out to the farm to hear the putt, putt, putt of his JD60 pulling tractor – what a day that was, and what a huge smile we all received that day. That lovable grin will stay with us forever.

Alvin was a great father who loved his children unconditionally and was always understanding and compassionate, being a great role model for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Many life lessons have been taught with a gentle hand and will always be remembered.

Alvin is survived by his: children: Dwight Wiechman and his wife, Pam, of Stewart, Allan Wiechman and his wife, Cyndi, of The Colony, TX; Donna Hinnenkamp and her husband, Dave, of Sauk Centre, Sara Wiechman of Columbia Heights, and Wade Wiechman and his wife, Casey, of Chaska; and grandchildren Dawn Horn of Garland, TX; Jessica (Kris) Hoffmann of New Ulm, Kortney (Jon) Fettig of Bismarck, ND; Steven (Jacky) Hensley, Amber Hensley, all of Alexandria; Cody Wiechman of Glencoe, Katrina Krienke of Chaska, Daniel Runningen of Ashby, and Piper Wiechman of Chaska.

He is further survived by his great-grandchildren: Lance, Haven, Kaylene, Brielle, Jayden, Gretta, Haley, Wyatt, McCoy, Tessa, Isiah, Joey, and Ellie; special friend and companion, Elsie Gilster of Lester Prairie; nephews Jim (Karen) Schendel of Duluth, and Greg (Anita) Schendel, all of Duluth; cousins, and other relatives, and friends.

In addition to his wife, Eunice, Alvin was preceded in death by his parents, Albert John and Hilda Wiechman; a daughter, Wendy Wiechman; sister and brother-in-law Pauline Schendel and her husband Herbert; father-in-law Reinhardt Radtke; mother-in-law and stepfather-in-law, Laura and Harvey Bach; and by his foster brother-in-law, Jim Johnstone.

A funeral service took place Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart, with interment in the church cemetery.

There was visitation Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the church, continuing Thursday for one hour prior to the service.

The Hughes-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hector handled the arrangements. Visit www.hantge.com online for obituaries and guestbook.

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