Alvin C. Charlson

Alvin Charlson, 85, of Clarion passed away Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at Wright Medical Center in Clarion.

Funeral services for Alvin Charlson will be held Friday, October 17, 2008 at 11:00 .m. at the First Lutheran Church in Clarion with Pastor Gary Boen officiating. Private family burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion. 

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 16, 2008 from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Ewing Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street in Clarion.

Alvin was born October 25, 1922, near Randall, Iowa, to Austin and Carrie Belita (Dueland) Charlson. He was baptized November 26, 1922 and confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Randall. In the spring of 1940, he graduated from Randall Consolidated Schools and later that year the family moved to Wright County.

He was married to Geraldine (Jeri) Strom on June 30, 1946, at First Congregational Church in Clarion, Iowa. To this union was born three children.

Alvin spent most of his life farming. Alvin’s goal was always to be a good steward of the land he farmed. Building terraces and utilizing contour farming were among the conservation practices he adopted to preserve the land. Alvin was an officer in the Wright County N.F.O.

Alvin and Jeri spent 40 years farming before retiring to Belmond. At that time Alvin took the position of custodian at Trinity Lutheran Church serving for 17 years. Alvin served the church by being on the council in various positions at both First Lutheran Church in Clarion and Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond, served on the board of Congregate Meals and Belmond Care Car, where he also was a driver. Alvin and Jeri, along with Steve and Marilyn Janssen, established and for 15 years served Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day dinners to people in Belmond area who would have been alone on those holidays.

Alvin is survived by Jeri, his wife of 62 years, and their children, Alan (Phyllis) Charlson of Waverly, Carrie Charlson Pingel of Mason City, and David (Joyce) Charlson of Clarion. There are six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. They are John (Kristen) Charlson, Grace and Kate; Kevin (Laurie) Charlson, Cael; Stephanie Pingel Johnson, Trenton and Tyler Piippo; Bradley (Trazee) Pingel, Zoey, Jade and Max; Austin (Angela) Charlson, Harley Mae; and Everett (Katy) Charlson; his sister Arlene Homervold; niece Faye Heykants and her children.

Alvin was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Art Homervold and great-grandson Jeff Pingel.