The Albert Lea Chapter of the American Association of University Women will hold its 40th Anniversary Tour of Homes Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The purpose of the tour is to raise funds to carry on the mission of AAUW. AAUW is devoted to the improvement of women’s educational opportunities, the assumption of community responsibilities by educated women and the general advancement of women.

AAUW supports a scholarship program with local scholarships and a fellowship program which gives financial aid to women who are doing outstanding work on post-graduate levels.

There are five homes on the tour.

Doug and Annie Olson

1313 Eastgate

The Olsons’ 1-year-old home is in the Goose Lake Addition. The mission-style home has an open floor plan. Doug helped to design it with the goal of making it functional, easy to maintain and a place they could live for the rest of their lives.

The main living area boasts a view of the wetlands. The yard is still a work in progress, but plans include a picnic area next to the fire pit and putting in a garden and golf green.

The main floor includes the master bedroom with an adjoining bath, half-bath, laundry area and kitchen with large workplace island.

The home was built to include daycare facilities in the lower level. Large windows and a fenced-in yard of green grass allow children to enjoy the natural surroundings. There are two more bedrooms and a full bathroom on this level.

Paul and Jan Overgaard

1728 Bay Oaks Drive

The two-level Overgaard home is designed to take advantage of the lake view. The home has an open floor plan. The kitchen has a work island and the adjacent dining room and living room provide spacious areas for family gatherings, which are needed, since the Overgaards have five children, 21 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. There is a large wrap-around deck and large windows which open the home to the outdoors. The master bedroom suite and second bathroom are also on the main floor.

The lower level family room with kitchenette has a walk-out to the patio and yard. The Overgaards recently commissioned Steve Tubbs to design a rain garden to preserve the shoreline in an eco-friendly environment. The garden was then constructed by grandsons Nathan and Kevin Neitzell.

A second bedroom and office complete the lower level. The office features memorabilia from Paul’s political service and a Lloyd Herfindahl mural depicting his life.

Other items of interest include Jan’s collection of hand-painted china and a grandfather clock, a Norwegian kitchen clock and a stained-glass window, all built by the late Dr. Marcus Keil.

Charles and Lorna Troe

2007 Sundance Lane

After 47 years, the Troes decided it was time to downsize from their large family home in Emmons.

They purchased a new townhouse featuring two bedrooms, an office, a sunporch and an open living design. The home has hardwood floors, spacious closets, Corian countertops and a fireplace combined with a flat-screen television. The couple has decorated with family heirlooms, glassware, clocks and quilts.

Steve and Diane Munson

712 E. Park Ave.

Steve and Diane Munson have spent the last four years since they purchased this home working on it.

It was built in 1912 by John Ransom and was designed by his wife, Mary.

Diane said when she first saw the house, she liked the layout of the rooms and could envision it with modern features while keeping the integrity of the original architecture. The original birch floors were left untouched, as was the molding. Steve duplicated those during the remodeling to make the new additions blend in.

The large kitchen and family room provides a view of Fountain Lake. The terraced landscaping down to the lake includes a fire pit, hot tub and fountain.

Upstairs, two bedrooms were combined into a master suite, with a sitting room where the original sun porch used to be. Downstairs, Steve has created a place for himself, complete with a pool table from Chicago, an antique bar from Italy and a large-screen television.

John and Karla Iacovino

637 W. Park Ave.

The Iacovino home was built in 2008 as a collaborative effort between the couple and Anita Khisus of Clarks Grove. It features 6,800 square feet, four bedrooms, six baths, and 111 windows on three levels with a lake view.

The main floor features a kitchen with white cabinets, black headers and beige walls (a color scheme carries throughout the house), a dining room, two-story fireplace, hardwood floors and master suite.

Three additional bedrooms are on the second floor.

The lower level of the home is set for entertaining with a sports bar, pool table, poker table and large-screen television. A media room is also planned.

Complimentary refreshments will be served at Thorne Crest Retirement Community, 1201 Garfield Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Two apartments will also be available for viewing.

Those attending are asked not to smoke or take photos. People should be prepared to remove their shoes when entering the homes and cotton socks are required. No children under 12 will be admitted. Closed doors should remain closed, and visitors are asked not to touch furnishings.

Tickets for the American Association of University Women’s 40th Anniversary Tour of Homes are $13 in advance and $15 the day of the event.

They can be purchased from AAUW members and at the following businesses: Ben’s Floral & Frame Designs, Celebrations Party & Gifts, Doyle’s Hallmark, Addie’s Floral & Gifts and Thorne Crest. (Tickets will be on sale at these stores until they close on Friday.)

On Saturday, tickets will be sold from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

Tickets for the tour are $13 in advance and $15 the day of the event. They can be purchased from AAUW members and at the following businesses: Ben’s Floral & Frame Designs, Celebrations Party & Gifts, Doyle’s Hallmark, Addie’s Floral & Gifts and Thorne Crest. (Tickets will be on sale at these stores until they close on Friday.)

On Saturday, tickets will be sold from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

Sponsors for the tour of homes include: Freeborn Lumber Co., Jan Mattson of Century 21, State Farm-Nancy VanderWaerdt, Jean and Tom Eaton of Granicrete Minnesota and Dr. Stephen Schwartz.