Virgel Alpers, 88, died Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at his home in Gibson. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 28, 2009 at the United Presbyterian Church in Gibson. Visitation will begin at noon on Thursday; family will be present from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Harden Funeral Chapel in What Cheer. Burial will be in the Sixteen Cemetery near Thornburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Virgel Henry Alpers was born April 7, 1921 in Van Horne, Iowa the son of Martin and Gertie Engelking Alpers. On October 16, 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army where he played an active role in the construction of the Alaskan Highway during WWII. After his honorable discharge in 1945 he returned home and on February 28, 1959 he was united in marriage to Norma Fisher at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Virgel owned and operated and trucking business for over forty years, he also drove a school bus for the Tri-County Community School District for ten years. He was a member of the Gibson Presbyterian Church, the What Cheer, Sigourney and English Valley Saddle Clubs and the Fuller Sarvis American Legion Post # 507 in Barnes City. Virgel was an avid horsemen and enjoyed dancing and roller skating. In 1954 he joined the Iowa State Fair Bicentennial Caravan which traveled from Fairfield to Des Moines on horseback. Then in 2004 he made the same voyage with his family and team of horses. Virgel was recognized as the only rider to have ridden in both the Bicentennial and Sesquicentennial Caravans. Like most horsemen, honesty and hard work was just a way of life for Virgel. His family brought a since of purpose to his life and he was very proud of his daughters and the families they have raised.
Virgel is preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Ethel Alpers; a brother and his wife, Ralph (Miriam) Alpers and brother-in-law, Dale Dilley.
He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Norma; two daughters: Lisa (Tom) Sieren of Keswick and Audrey (Jamie) Bos of Gibson; a sister, Betty Dilley of Oskaloosa. Virgel's legacy will also be carried on by his two buddies and grandsons, Ross Sieren and Aydan Bos.
Virgel Henry Alpers was born April 7, 1921 in Van Horne, Iowa the son of Martin and Gertie Engelking Alpers. On October 16, 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army where he played an active role in the construction of the Alaskan Highway during WWII. After his honorable discharge in 1945 he returned home and on February 28, 1959 he was united in marriage to Norma Fisher at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Virgel owned and operated and trucking business for over forty years, he also drove a school bus for the Tri-County Community School District for ten years. He was a member of the Gibson Presbyterian Church, the What Cheer, Sigourney and English Valley Saddle Clubs and the Fuller Sarvis American Legion Post # 507 in Barnes City. Virgel was an avid horsemen and enjoyed dancing and roller skating. In 1954 he joined the Iowa State Fair Bicentennial Caravan which traveled from Fairfield to Des Moines on horseback. Then in 2004 he made the same voyage with his family and team of horses. Virgel was recognized as the only rider to have ridden in both the Bicentennial and Sesquicentennial Caravans. Like most horsemen, honesty and hard work was just a way of life for Virgel. His family brought a since of purpose to his life and he was very proud of his daughters and the families they have raised.
Virgel is preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Ethel Alpers; a brother and his wife, Ralph (Miriam) Alpers and brother-in-law, Dale Dilley.
He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Norma; two daughters: Lisa (Tom) Sieren of Keswick and Audrey (Jamie) Bos of Gibson; a sister, Betty Dilley of Oskaloosa. Virgel's legacy will also be carried on by his two buddies and grandsons, Ross Sieren and Aydan Bos.
Virgel Alpers, 88, died Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at his home in Gibson. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 28, 2009 at the United Presbyterian Church in Gibson. Visitation will begin at noon on Thursday; family will be present from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Harden Funeral Chapel in What Cheer. Burial will be in the Sixteen Cemetery near Thornburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Virgel Henry Alpers was born April 7, 1921 in Van Horne, Iowa the son of Martin and Gertie Engelking Alpers. On October 16, 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army where he played an active role in the construction of the Alaskan Highway during WWII. After his honorable discharge in 1945 he returned home and on February 28, 1959 he was united in marriage to Norma Fisher at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Virgel owned and operated and trucking business for over forty years, he also drove a school bus for the Tri-County Community School District for ten years. He was a member of the Gibson Presbyterian Church, the What Cheer, Sigourney and English Valley Saddle Clubs and the Fuller Sarvis American Legion Post # 507 in Barnes City. Virgel was an avid horsemen and enjoyed dancing and roller skating. In 1954 he joined the Iowa State Fair Bicentennial Caravan which traveled from Fairfield to Des Moines on horseback. Then in 2004 he made the same voyage with his family and team of horses. Virgel was recognized as the only rider to have ridden in both the Bicentennial and Sesquicentennial Caravans. Like most horsemen, honesty and hard work was just a way of life for Virgel. His family brought a since of purpose to his life and he was very proud of his daughters and the families they have raised.
Virgel is preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Ethel Alpers; a brother and his wife, Ralph (Miriam) Alpers and brother-in-law, Dale Dilley.
He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Norma; two daughters: Lisa (Tom) Sieren of Keswick and Audrey (Jamie) Bos of Gibson; a sister, Betty Dilley of Oskaloosa. Virgel's legacy will also be carried on by his two buddies and grandsons, Ross Sieren and Aydan Bos.
Virgel Henry Alpers was born April 7, 1921 in Van Horne, Iowa the son of Martin and Gertie Engelking Alpers. On October 16, 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army where he played an active role in the construction of the Alaskan Highway during WWII. After his honorable discharge in 1945 he returned home and on February 28, 1959 he was united in marriage to Norma Fisher at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Virgel owned and operated and trucking business for over forty years, he also drove a school bus for the Tri-County Community School District for ten years. He was a member of the Gibson Presbyterian Church, the What Cheer, Sigourney and English Valley Saddle Clubs and the Fuller Sarvis American Legion Post # 507 in Barnes City. Virgel was an avid horsemen and enjoyed dancing and roller skating. In 1954 he joined the Iowa State Fair Bicentennial Caravan which traveled from Fairfield to Des Moines on horseback. Then in 2004 he made the same voyage with his family and team of horses. Virgel was recognized as the only rider to have ridden in both the Bicentennial and Sesquicentennial Caravans. Like most horsemen, honesty and hard work was just a way of life for Virgel. His family brought a since of purpose to his life and he was very proud of his daughters and the families they have raised.
Virgel is preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Ethel Alpers; a brother and his wife, Ralph (Miriam) Alpers and brother-in-law, Dale Dilley.
He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Norma; two daughters: Lisa (Tom) Sieren of Keswick and Audrey (Jamie) Bos of Gibson; a sister, Betty Dilley of Oskaloosa. Virgel's legacy will also be carried on by his two buddies and grandsons, Ross Sieren and Aydan Bos.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
