FREDERICKSBURG -- Ervin (Alvin) Tessmer, 90, died Monday evening, March 26, 2001 at Sunrise Guest Home in Fredericksburg.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 29 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, with Pastor Ronnie Koch officiating. Karen Downes was organist, accompany Pastor Kocn singing "Beautiful Savior" and the congregational singing of "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art".

Interment was in St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery/ Richfield, rural Sumner, with Jay Tessmer, Butch Tessmer, Warren Reiser, Jon Hillard, Karl Tessmer and Wally Wendland as casket bearers.

Alvin was born Oct. 14, 1910, the son of Walter and Lena (Pleggenkuhle) Tessmer. The family lived on a Chickasaw County farm until Alvin was five years old, then moved to a farm in Fayette County. He was confirmed in 1926 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lawler. He attended country schools and the Alpha Consolidated School, Alpha, through the 11th grade. On Nov. 22, 1932, Alvin was united in marriage with Nettie Stapel. They farmed southwest of Waucoma for 15 years and in 1947, moved to their farm northwest of Fredericksburg. Alvin retired from farming on Jan. 1, 1975 and they continued to live on their farm until moving into Fredericksburg in 1991. In 1998, Alvin entered the nursing home due to a decline in health. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg and the Farmers Union.

Surviving are his wife, Nettie; one brother, Everett Tessmer, Tripoli; two sisters, Della Reiser, Fredericksburg and Labenius Kist, Junction City, OR.

Preceding him in death were an infant son, Charles; his parents; three brothers, Woodrow, Dean and Archie; one sister, Margaret Tessmer in infancy.

Source: New Hampton Tribune; Apr. 3, 2001 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters