Funeral services for Fidel D. Ramirez, 88, formerly of Albert Lea, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Jim Berning and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Interment will be at St. Theodore’s Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by area servicemen’s organizations. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Fidel passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, at the Robert J. Dole VA Hospital in Wichita, Kan. 
Fidel was born in St. Paul on June 25, 1920, the son of Santos and Elena (Velasquez) Ramirez. Fidel was united in marriage to Consuelo B. Alvarado in May 1957 in Mason City, Iowa. They were members of St. Theodore Catholic Church. 
Fidel served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He lived in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked at U.S. Corey Steel Inc. and later moved to Albert Lea where he was employed at Northwest Rubber Inc. 
Fidel is survived by his five children: David (Rosetta) Ramirez of Bowler, Wis., Manuel (Shadie) Ramirez of Inver Grove Heights, Fidel Jr. (Bretha) Ramirez of Vidor, Texas, Vera Ramirez of Cottage Grove, and Michael (Juanita) Ramirez of Derby, Kan. He had 10 grandchildren: David Ramirez, Jr. of Red Wing, Doug (Yolanda) Ramirez of Houston, Texas, Dawn Ramirez of Bowler, Wis., Sadie Ramirez of Prescott, Wis., Anthony Ramirez of Vidor, Texas, Dino and Maria Ramirez of Cottage Grove, Michael (Julie) Ramirez, Jr. of Belle Plaine, Kan., Salvador (Crystal) Ramirez of Rosehill, Kan., and Jeffrey (Nikki) Ramirez of Rosehill, Kan.; and 28 great-grandchildren. 
Fidel is also survived by stepchildren: Marina (Jack) Gillard of Glenville and Daniel (Louell) Gari, of Spring Valley, Calif.; and grandchildren: Lisa (Trevor) DeRaad, Jason Gaard, Jordan (Stacy) Vollmer, Richard (Raquel) Gari, Jessica (Phil) Smith, Josh (Sarah) Gari, Seth (Holly) Gari; and five great-grandchildren. 
Fidel has nine sisters and one brother: Sarah Rodriguez, Helen Salazar, Esther Lopez, Connie Martinez, Natalia Ayala, Annie (Segundo) Jaso, Delores (Abel) Alsides, Rita (William) Koubele, Beatrice (Merlin) Lundell, and Peter (Diane) Ramirez.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Santos and Elena Ramirez; his beloved wife, Consuelo; sister, Elvira; brothers: Joseph and Anthony; stepchildren: Richard Gari and Freda Vollmer; and brothers-in-law: Alfredo Rodriguez, Tony Lopez, Peter Salazar, and Daniel Martinez.