Alf Oswald

    Alf Oswald passed away Feb. 10, 2008 at the age of 79 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa. Services will be held at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Ankeny, Iowa on Wednesday, Feb. 13, with burial at the Clear Lake Cemetery at 2 p.m.  
    Alf was born May 4, 1928 near Elmore, Minn. into his Norwegian family, joining two brothers and two sisters.  As a young child the family moved to Ventura where he attended school until his brothers went into WW II and he was needed to help on the farm.  Following the war he enrolled at Waldorf College to finish his education.  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was sent to San Diego, Calif. He was assigned to the U.S. Randolph air craft carrier in the Mediterranean where he worked in communications.  
    He returned to Clear Lake after serving and worked for Allied Mills sacking and sewing animal feeds for 23 years.  In 1957, on the beach of Clear Lake, he was introduced to Donna Peterson, a teacher at Lake Mills, Iowa.  Donna and Alf were married at the Forest City Methodist Church June 7, 1958 and settled into their home in Clear Lake. Alf’s happiest day was the day his beautiful baby girl, Kim Diane, was born.
    Health issues forced Alf to retire and his strong Christian faith sustained his entire life no matter what problems came along.  He became the “stay at home dad” providing all the needs of his family in a loving nature, never complaining while Donna finished her education and teaching.  They lived in Clear Lake 24 years before moving to Mason City, Iowa for 17 years.  In 2000, Alf and Donna moved to Ankeny to be near Kim and her husband, Jason.  He loved his church, his gardens at Maplewood, and the family and friends that surrounded him.
    Alf loved to travel with his family and enjoyed multiple trips to Norway, traveling through 13 countries in Europe, and annual trips to Hawaii in February away from the cold winter.  He was a dedicated, loving family man who loved his time with Donna, Kim, and Jason.  He was always willing to help everyone and will be deeply missed by family and friends.
    He is survived by his wife, Donna; daughter, Dr. Kim Oswald and her husband, Jason Douglas; sisters, Jennie Baker,  and Inga Nordaas; sister-in-law, June Oswald and a large supportive group of nieces and nephews.  
    He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Sigvart Oswald; brothers, Swen in WW II and Gordon; and brothers-in-law, Chad Baker and Swen Nordaas.