Alvin Heinrichs, age 89, of Carroll, Iowa, died early Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at the Carroll Health Center Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, February 5, 2011, at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Father Timothy Schott. Con-celebrants will be Father Thomas Hart and Father Ed Tiedeman. Lector will be Al’s niece, Sandie Koehler. Gift Bearers will be granddaughters, Shelly Moline, Heather McClue, Julie Krogman, Jessica Haubrich, and Molly Von Ahn. Eucharistic Minister will be his granddaughter, Jenna Campbell. Pianist will be Marcy Anderson. Casket Bearers will be Al’s grandsons, Tony Heinrichs, Mike Heinrichs, Jeremy Heinrichs, Scott Stevens, Will Stevens, Alex Langel, and Seth Langel. Burial will be at St. Francis Cemetery in Maple River with military honors conducted by the Breda American Legion. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 P.M. Friday. A rosary will be prayed at 4 P.M. Friday by the Carroll Knights of Columbus followed by a Christian wake service at 7:30 P.M. by St. Lawrence Parish.
Al was born on July 31, 1921, at Adrian, Minnesota, the son of Alphons T. and Christina (Wernimont) Heinrichs. At a young age his family moved to the Carroll area where Al graduated from Carroll High School. In December 1942 he entered the U.S. Navy and served during World War II in the South Pacific with the Mosquito PT Boat Fleet. He was honorably discharged in January 1946. Al and Irene Mahlberg were married on September 1, 1948, at St. Mary’s Church in Panama, Iowa. Following their marriage the couple made their home in Carroll and Al was employed by the Matt Furniture Company. In 1952 he started Heinrichs Linoleum-Carpet Laying Service and the business is operated today by his three sons. He was a member of St. Lawrence Parish, the Breda American Legion, Carroll Moose Lodge, and the Carroll Knights of Columbus. He served the Knights of Columbus as a Past Grand Knight and member of the Columbus Building Association. Al was an avid card player and fisherman and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Al is survived by his children, Paul Heinrichs and his wife Kathy of Carroll, Tom Heinrichs and his special friend Pat Johansen of Carroll, Tim Heinrichs and his wife Denise of Maple River, and Ann Langel and her husband Rick of West Bend; 13 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; his brothers, Virgil Heinrichs and his wife Louise of Spencer and Fritz Heinrichs and his wife Billie of Flagstaff, Arizona; a sister, Irene Glenn of Oskaloosa; and by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Joy Heinrichs of Maple River, Jean Heinrichs of Spencer, Neil and Charlene Mahlberg of Harlan, and Don Keane of Panama.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, in June 2003; his parents; brothers, Ed Heinrichs and Roman Heinrichs; a sister, Barbara Heinrichs; his parents-in-law, Leo and Anna Mahlberg; and by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Wesley Glenn, Jerry and Ethel Schafer, Irmine Keane, and Loren and Alice Weihs.