The funeral service for Alvin “Al” D. Houchin of Peoria, Ariz., formerly of Albert Lea, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2003, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Pastor Curtis Zieske will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran’s Organizations. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Alvin died on Wednesday, May 7, 2003 at Boswell Memorial Hospital in Sun City, Arizona. Alvin was born in Taylor, Nebraska, the son of James L. and Nona Houchin. He grew up in Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota. Alvin served our country in the U.S. Army during WWII in the 87 Infantry Division.

He made his home in Albert Lea in 1940. In October of 1942, in Austin, Minn., Alvin married Velma Espe. To this union one son was born, Thomas.

Al had worked at Continental Foundry in Albert Lea as a molder until his retirement in 1980. Following retirement, he spent his summers at the lake place in Cleveland, Minn., and his winters in Benson, Ariz. In 2001 he moved to Peoria, Ariz.

Alvin enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling and riding his ATC. He also raised birds, and liked working with stained glass and wood.

Al is survived by his son Thomas Houchin and his wife Beth of Glendale, Ariz., two grandchildren Kevin Houchin, and Kristopher Houchin both of Glendale, Ariz., three sisters: Eunice Moser of Blooming Prairie, Minn., Vera Wessels of Albert Lea, Janice Dero of Albert Lea, a brother Ernest Houchin of Grand Island, Neb., and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: father James, mother Nona, step-mother India, his wife Velma Houchin in 1988, sisters: Hilda Nelson, Lucille Martin, and Dorthy Oquist, and brother Irwin Houchin

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.