Allen Arvid Ahlbrecht

Obituary

Allen Arvid Ahlbrecht was born October 31, 1950, to Sonny and Molly (Markgraf) Ahlbrecht in Willmar, Minnesota.  It was his mother's birthday.  The third of five children, he spent his early years at the Lake Lillian school.  In 1958 they purchased land in Renville County and moved to what is now the Ahlbrecht family farm northwest of Hector.

He enjoyed working the farm, taking care of the plants and animals, and working on the machinery.  He graduated from Hector High School in 1968 and attended Willmar Technical College for auto mechanics.  He was a conscientious objector and spent several years working to avoid going to war in Vietnam.  

Al was married June 19, 1970, to Suzanne Willette, at First Lutheran (now Gethsemane Lutheran) Church in Dassel, Minnesota.  Al and Sue made their home on the family farm and had three children.  They bought a house and moved it to the farm.  Through blood, sweat, and tears, they salvaged a house which was set to be demolished. They became foster parents for Renville County and took care of over thirty foster children.  Working at times with the Hector chapter of the Humane Society, they also rescued numerous animals including orphaned raccoons, stray dogs, and kittens.  Al put his heart and soul (and his thumb) into taking care of plants, animals, children, vehicles, and buildings.  He held several other jobs over the years, but the farm remained his true home.

He died peacefully at Abbott Northwestern Hospital on July 16, 2014, following a short illness.

Allen is preceded in death by his mother, Amelia "Molly" Markgraf Ahlbrecht; his father, Otto "Sonny" Ahlbrecht, Jr.; brothers-in-law Paul Willette, Earl Rowland, and Roy Hodge; and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is survived by his ex-wife and best friend of 40 years, Suzanne Willette Ahlbrecht, and her parents, Wally and Dolores Willette, all of Litchfield, Minnesota; daughter Laurel Ahlbrecht and her children, Aleisha and Daniel, of Hutchinson; daughter Rebecca Ahlbrecht and granddaughter Samantha of St Cloud; son Allen J. Ahlbrecht, also of St Cloud.  He is also survived by four sisters; Marlys Hodge of St Paul; Sharon Rowland of Chouteau, Oklahoma; Beverly and husband Steve Steberg of Blaine, Minnesota; Debra Wenz of Wheat Ridge, Colorado; nine nieces and nephews and their families, and countless other relatives and friends.