On Tuesday, July 28, 2020, Alvin “Al” Howard Oftedahl, Waupaca, loving husband and father to seven children, passed away at the age of 82 after fighting Parkinson’s for 16 years.
Al was born on August 10, 1937 in Chicago, IL to Harald and Lina (Hansen) Oftedahl. He graduated from Lane Tech in Chicago in 1956 and then the family moved to Almond, WI. He served as a Corporal in the Army in the 82nd Airborne Division for two years and then worked at the Waupaca Foundry for 39 years. Al married Shirley Holtz in 1964 (divorced in 1981) and on July 23, 1983 he married Nancy Keil. Al was a loving and devoted husband and father, a caring and giving friend and a quintessential Norwegian- calm, stoic, and steadfast… with a sneaky sense of humor. He was self-taught, gifted with math and spatial relationships, which resulted in his success and creative problem-solving at the Waupaca Foundry and led to developing and securing two patents at the Foundry. He was supportive of his friends and family and gave of his time and talents to help wherever he could. His passions included hunting, fishing, volleyball, hockey, baseball, and coaching youth sports. You may remember seeing him driving the Zamboni, coaching, and volunteering at the hockey rink, including tying the kid’s skates. There was no task too large or small for Alvin.
Al is survived by his wife, Nancy; his seven children: Carrie (Fred Mazanec), Sandy, Jody (Jason Berry), Ben, Jacob (Ellie), Jeremiah (Cat) and Whitney; his grandchildren: Jordan, Mara, Kiersten, Evan, Ryan, Liam and Emree; great-grandchild, Daymian and his brother, Don. Al was preceded in death by his father Harald, his mother Lina, both of whom immigrated from Norway; his sister, Agnes and brother-in-law, Jerry Anderson.
The funeral service for Al will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at Central Wisconsin Veteran’s Cemetery in King. Cemetery regulations require all in attendance to wear masks due to COVID-19. All planning to attend funeral ceremony need to arrive by 10:45 a.m. Military honors will follow the ceremony. A celebration of life will follow at the Pines Inn Cottages, N2566 Pines Inn Lane, Waupaca, WI 54981. A memorial fund has been established. The Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London is serving the family. www.clinehansonfuneralhome.com
The family extends their deepest thanks and gratitude to ThedaCare Hospice Team. With their support and enduring love and patience of his wife Nancy, Alvin passed away at home.