Alvin Fredrick "Al" Bahlmann

Alvin "Al" Fredrick Bahlmann, of Waverly, Iowa, passed away March 24, 2018, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community, following a 10 year battle with Parkinson's. Born January 30, 1933, to the late Frederick and Erna (Mueller) Bahlmann, of Plainfield, he was 85 years old.
Al attended the Butler #6 country school, parochial school at St. Paul's Lutheran, and graduated from Waverly High School in 1951. He entered Wartburg College and played basketball and ran track. He served his country, drafted into the army after two years at Wartburg, and was assigned to a medical unit as a Dental Assistant stationed in Nurnberg, Germany. While in the service, Al played basketball for the SACom Commander five team. He then returned to Wartburg and graduated in 1957. On June 8, 1957, Al married Jeannette Mae Boicourt, from St. Paul, Minnesota, and the couple settled in Waverly for over 60 years, along with their four children; Craig, Lynnette, Jennifer, and Bruce.
Al worked for CUNA (formerly Lutheran Mutual Life) in Waverly, from 1957 until his retirement. Al served his community as Mayor from 1966-68, and was a member of the City Council, Jaycee's, and St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Al's earthly life was filled with incredible experiences! A renaissance man of sorts, he enjoyed art, books, music, sports, and the great outdoors. Al liked walks in the woods searching for morel mushrooms, duck hunting, fly-fishing, ventures with children and grandchildren, Ragbrai rides, and more. Al was known for being kind, loving, generous, quick-witted, his funny one-liners, and owning every shade of khaki pants. A collector of antique decoys, Al mastered the art of wood carving - ducks, shorebirds, Santa's, and other figures - giving to family and friends. He and his late wife, Jeannette, were perfect companions for adventure-camping, canoeing, cross country skiing, building homes for Habitat for Humanity, and their many travels throughout the world. The couple reunites in heaven!
Al is survived by his children; Craig (Micky) Bahlmann, of Waverly, Iowa, Lynnette (Steve) Schreen, of Clarksville, Iowa, Jennifer (Rick)Ballantine of Ames, Iowa, and Bruce Bahlmann of Manhattan, Kansas. His grandchildren; Ben Schreen, Nelson Schreen, Abigail Bahlmann, Bryan Bahlmann, Elizabeth Bahlmann, James Bahlmann, Morgan (Tim) Combs, Alex Kingery, Michael Kingery, Bret Ballantine, and Brittany Ballantine. Brother; Edgar (Rosie) Bahlmann of Waverly, Iowa, and Sisters; Eleanor (Larry) Stumme of Denver, Iowa, and Esther Bahlmann of Iowa City, Iowa, and Sister-in-Law; Dorothy Bahlmann of Forest City. He is preceded in death by his wife, Jeannette, and his brother, Carl Bahlmann.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 am, on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and School, with Pastor Arthur Bergren officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Waverly, with Military Honors conducted by the Waverly Area Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation will be on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.