Alvin LeRoy "Al" Durga

TRAVERSE CITY — Alvin "Al" LeRoy Durga, 77, of Traverse City, passed away Saturday morning, June 10, 2006, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

On Dec. 27, 1928, Al was born to Alvin and Clara (Engel) Durga. He grew up and lived most of his life in Traverse City.

Al served his country honorably as a sergeant in the United States Air Force.

On June 2, 1950, he married the love of his life, Gwendolyn M. Baatz. They enjoyed 56 happy years together.

Al was a member of the AML, Eagles, and a lifetime member of the VFW.

Al enjoyed fishing, gardening, playing euchre, making wine, watching his children and grandchildren play baseball, and going to deer camp. His boys say that he was one heck of a pig farmer.

He loved to make people laugh, either by telling a joke or playing a prank.

He was a brick/stone mason by trade. Al retired from the Traverse City Record Eagle after 22 years as a carrier. His large gardens delighted him and gave him the opportunity to sell fresh fruit and vegetables at a roadside stand during the summer.

Surviving are his wife, Gwen; son, Thomas Durga; daughter, Linda (Danny) Dalzell; daughter, Peggy Cole; son, Gregory (Nikki) Durga; son, Alvin (Shelly) Durga III; and son, Daniel Durga; sisters, Dorothy (Roy) Stites, Nina (Pete) Sheffer, Patricia Greilick and Barabara (Gill) Davis; brothers, Clifford (Kimmy) Durga and Robert (Donna) Durga; 26 grandchildren; and 39 great-great-grandchildren.

Al was preceded in death by both his parents, Alvin and Clara (Engel) Durga; sister, Margaret (Ted) Dickson; and brother-in-law, Roy Stites.

"Hey, there's 10 cents!"

Memorial services will be held Tuesday, June 13, 2006, at 1 p.m., at the VFW Hall on Veterans Drive in Traverse City. Pastor Paul Ruzinsky will be officiating.

In remembrance of Al, memorials may be sent in c/o Linda Dalzell, 8676 Lake Ann Road, Lake Ann, MI 49650.

Kindly share your memories with the family on their on-line guest book at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.