Melvin Alborn

1924 - 2015

Melvin Lloyd Alborn, 90, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, of natural causes at his home. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 11600 Elmore Road in Anchorage, Alaska, with Pastor Voss officiating. The family welcomes flowers at the service. Melvin was born on July 15, 1924, to Lloyd and Hazel (Kever) Alborn in Perry, Iowa. He served in the Army Air Corps until his honorable discharge in 1945. Melvin came to Alaska in 1951, with his GMC dump truck to work in road construction, helping to build the state's road infrastructure until retirement from the Teamsters in 1977. Married in 1952, Melvin and Lorraine raised their five children in Anchorage. He enjoyed spending time with family, tending to the big lawns and gardens at his five acre home in Anchorage and relaxing at his Kenai Lake cabin in Cooper Landing, Alaska. His family wrote, "He will be fondly remembered for his kind, gentle and optimistic spirit, making friends wherever he went. He was deeply loved and cherished by his friends and family." Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Hazel Alborn; a brother, Frank Alborn; a sister, Marie Schleuger; and grandson, Eric Brown. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lorraine Alborn of Anchorage; sons, Jerry (Ruth) Alborn of Dover, Del., and David (Mary) Alborn of Anchorage; daughters, Julie (Dave) Terdan of Side Lake, Minn., Lisa (Mark) Sutherlin of Anchorage, and Drs. Lori (Ed) Brown of La Jolla, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 11600 Elmore Road, Anchorage, AK 99516. Arrangements were cared for by the Anchorage Funeral Home & Crematory. Please visit Melvin's obituary and online guestbook at www.AlaskanFuneral.com.