CENTER - Earl Wesley Affolter, 61, passed away from a sudden, unexpected illness Sept. 9, 2008, at MeritCare Hospital, Fargo. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Earl was born Oct. 31, 1946, in Hazen, to Charles and Geneva (Burwick) Affolter. He was raised in the Hazen area and graduated from Hazen High School. From there, he attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. During his visits back home, he met his future wife, Gayle Redka.
He enlisted in the Air Force in July 1969 and was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. On Feb. 20, 1971, he married Gayle Redka. During his time at Homestead AFB, during the Vietnam War, he worked with the families of the soldiers listed as POW or MIA. Also during that time, in Florida in 1973, they had their daughter, Rebecca Gayle.
After his service in the military, Earl and his family moved to Aberdeen, S.D., where Earl worked for his sister, Charlotte (Affolter) Liebelt, and her husband, John Liebelt. After several years in Aberdeen, Earl and his family relocated to Stanton. Once settled in Stanton, Earl started working at Basin Electric, Leland Olds Station. He and Gayle had a son, Charles Earl, born in 1978. Earl continued working at Leland Olds Station and retired early, as a mechanical supervisor, in 2005, just before his wife's battle with cancer came to a close, in February 2006.
After his wife's death in February 2006, Earl started working with Danny Bakken for the Millwrights Local 1091. Working as a team, they traveled to and worked at various locations throughout the U.S. At his last job, he was working for US Pipeline in Corning, N.Y., as an assistant supervisor with Danny. He unexpectedly fell ill at work, went unconscious and never regained consciousness. He was later found to have had brain cancer.
The wonderful generosity of US Pipeline and the people there will never be forgotten. They raised money to help bring Earl home to North Dakota, on a medical flight, so that he could pass away with his family present at his bedside. Seeing his mother's gentle hand cup his cheek and heart as he passed away is a memory that will be priceless to this family.
A very special thank you to Danny (Earl's best friend) and Diane Bakken. Over the past couple of years, Danny brought to Earl the wonderful gifts of laughter and friendship - two things that weren't quite the same after his wife's passing. There aren't enough words to thank Danny for the joy he brought back into Earl's life.
Earl will be greatly missed by his family and friends. God gifted him with talented hands that could build or repair anything, from a multimillion-dollar piece of equipment at work, to the smallest toy for his grandchild. He took pride in a job well done and in everything he did. His generosity to friends, family and organizations was without limits.
Earl is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Duffy Froemke, Lisbon; his son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Angela, Hazen; six grandchildren, Steven and Sierra Froemke, Lisbon, and Jonathan, Jaydn, Joshua and James Affolter, Hazen; his mother, Geneva Affolter Nelsen, Bismarck; his brother, Dean Affolter, Mandan; his sister, Charlotte Liebelt, Aberdeen, S.D.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Charles J. Affolter; his wife, Gayle Affolter; and his stepfather, Mark Nelsen.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family prefers memorials be made to the Disabled Veterans of America.
Source: Bismarck Tribune, September 13, 2008
Earl was born Oct. 31, 1946, in Hazen, to Charles and Geneva (Burwick) Affolter. He was raised in the Hazen area and graduated from Hazen High School. From there, he attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. During his visits back home, he met his future wife, Gayle Redka.
He enlisted in the Air Force in July 1969 and was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. On Feb. 20, 1971, he married Gayle Redka. During his time at Homestead AFB, during the Vietnam War, he worked with the families of the soldiers listed as POW or MIA. Also during that time, in Florida in 1973, they had their daughter, Rebecca Gayle.
After his service in the military, Earl and his family moved to Aberdeen, S.D., where Earl worked for his sister, Charlotte (Affolter) Liebelt, and her husband, John Liebelt. After several years in Aberdeen, Earl and his family relocated to Stanton. Once settled in Stanton, Earl started working at Basin Electric, Leland Olds Station. He and Gayle had a son, Charles Earl, born in 1978. Earl continued working at Leland Olds Station and retired early, as a mechanical supervisor, in 2005, just before his wife's battle with cancer came to a close, in February 2006.
After his wife's death in February 2006, Earl started working with Danny Bakken for the Millwrights Local 1091. Working as a team, they traveled to and worked at various locations throughout the U.S. At his last job, he was working for US Pipeline in Corning, N.Y., as an assistant supervisor with Danny. He unexpectedly fell ill at work, went unconscious and never regained consciousness. He was later found to have had brain cancer.
The wonderful generosity of US Pipeline and the people there will never be forgotten. They raised money to help bring Earl home to North Dakota, on a medical flight, so that he could pass away with his family present at his bedside. Seeing his mother's gentle hand cup his cheek and heart as he passed away is a memory that will be priceless to this family.
A very special thank you to Danny (Earl's best friend) and Diane Bakken. Over the past couple of years, Danny brought to Earl the wonderful gifts of laughter and friendship - two things that weren't quite the same after his wife's passing. There aren't enough words to thank Danny for the joy he brought back into Earl's life.
Earl will be greatly missed by his family and friends. God gifted him with talented hands that could build or repair anything, from a multimillion-dollar piece of equipment at work, to the smallest toy for his grandchild. He took pride in a job well done and in everything he did. His generosity to friends, family and organizations was without limits.
Earl is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Duffy Froemke, Lisbon; his son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Angela, Hazen; six grandchildren, Steven and Sierra Froemke, Lisbon, and Jonathan, Jaydn, Joshua and James Affolter, Hazen; his mother, Geneva Affolter Nelsen, Bismarck; his brother, Dean Affolter, Mandan; his sister, Charlotte Liebelt, Aberdeen, S.D.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Charles J. Affolter; his wife, Gayle Affolter; and his stepfather, Mark Nelsen.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family prefers memorials be made to the Disabled Veterans of America.
Source: Bismarck Tribune, September 13, 2008
CENTER - Earl Wesley Affolter, 61, passed away from a sudden, unexpected illness Sept. 9, 2008, at MeritCare Hospital, Fargo. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Earl was born Oct. 31, 1946, in Hazen, to Charles and Geneva (Burwick) Affolter. He was raised in the Hazen area and graduated from Hazen High School. From there, he attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. During his visits back home, he met his future wife, Gayle Redka.
He enlisted in the Air Force in July 1969 and was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. On Feb. 20, 1971, he married Gayle Redka. During his time at Homestead AFB, during the Vietnam War, he worked with the families of the soldiers listed as POW or MIA. Also during that time, in Florida in 1973, they had their daughter, Rebecca Gayle.
After his service in the military, Earl and his family moved to Aberdeen, S.D., where Earl worked for his sister, Charlotte (Affolter) Liebelt, and her husband, John Liebelt. After several years in Aberdeen, Earl and his family relocated to Stanton. Once settled in Stanton, Earl started working at Basin Electric, Leland Olds Station. He and Gayle had a son, Charles Earl, born in 1978. Earl continued working at Leland Olds Station and retired early, as a mechanical supervisor, in 2005, just before his wife's battle with cancer came to a close, in February 2006.
After his wife's death in February 2006, Earl started working with Danny Bakken for the Millwrights Local 1091. Working as a team, they traveled to and worked at various locations throughout the U.S. At his last job, he was working for US Pipeline in Corning, N.Y., as an assistant supervisor with Danny. He unexpectedly fell ill at work, went unconscious and never regained consciousness. He was later found to have had brain cancer.
The wonderful generosity of US Pipeline and the people there will never be forgotten. They raised money to help bring Earl home to North Dakota, on a medical flight, so that he could pass away with his family present at his bedside. Seeing his mother's gentle hand cup his cheek and heart as he passed away is a memory that will be priceless to this family.
A very special thank you to Danny (Earl's best friend) and Diane Bakken. Over the past couple of years, Danny brought to Earl the wonderful gifts of laughter and friendship - two things that weren't quite the same after his wife's passing. There aren't enough words to thank Danny for the joy he brought back into Earl's life.
Earl will be greatly missed by his family and friends. God gifted him with talented hands that could build or repair anything, from a multimillion-dollar piece of equipment at work, to the smallest toy for his grandchild. He took pride in a job well done and in everything he did. His generosity to friends, family and organizations was without limits.
Earl is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Duffy Froemke, Lisbon; his son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Angela, Hazen; six grandchildren, Steven and Sierra Froemke, Lisbon, and Jonathan, Jaydn, Joshua and James Affolter, Hazen; his mother, Geneva Affolter Nelsen, Bismarck; his brother, Dean Affolter, Mandan; his sister, Charlotte Liebelt, Aberdeen, S.D.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Charles J. Affolter; his wife, Gayle Affolter; and his stepfather, Mark Nelsen.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family prefers memorials be made to the Disabled Veterans of America.
Source: Bismarck Tribune, September 13, 2008
Earl was born Oct. 31, 1946, in Hazen, to Charles and Geneva (Burwick) Affolter. He was raised in the Hazen area and graduated from Hazen High School. From there, he attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. During his visits back home, he met his future wife, Gayle Redka.
He enlisted in the Air Force in July 1969 and was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. On Feb. 20, 1971, he married Gayle Redka. During his time at Homestead AFB, during the Vietnam War, he worked with the families of the soldiers listed as POW or MIA. Also during that time, in Florida in 1973, they had their daughter, Rebecca Gayle.
After his service in the military, Earl and his family moved to Aberdeen, S.D., where Earl worked for his sister, Charlotte (Affolter) Liebelt, and her husband, John Liebelt. After several years in Aberdeen, Earl and his family relocated to Stanton. Once settled in Stanton, Earl started working at Basin Electric, Leland Olds Station. He and Gayle had a son, Charles Earl, born in 1978. Earl continued working at Leland Olds Station and retired early, as a mechanical supervisor, in 2005, just before his wife's battle with cancer came to a close, in February 2006.
After his wife's death in February 2006, Earl started working with Danny Bakken for the Millwrights Local 1091. Working as a team, they traveled to and worked at various locations throughout the U.S. At his last job, he was working for US Pipeline in Corning, N.Y., as an assistant supervisor with Danny. He unexpectedly fell ill at work, went unconscious and never regained consciousness. He was later found to have had brain cancer.
The wonderful generosity of US Pipeline and the people there will never be forgotten. They raised money to help bring Earl home to North Dakota, on a medical flight, so that he could pass away with his family present at his bedside. Seeing his mother's gentle hand cup his cheek and heart as he passed away is a memory that will be priceless to this family.
A very special thank you to Danny (Earl's best friend) and Diane Bakken. Over the past couple of years, Danny brought to Earl the wonderful gifts of laughter and friendship - two things that weren't quite the same after his wife's passing. There aren't enough words to thank Danny for the joy he brought back into Earl's life.
Earl will be greatly missed by his family and friends. God gifted him with talented hands that could build or repair anything, from a multimillion-dollar piece of equipment at work, to the smallest toy for his grandchild. He took pride in a job well done and in everything he did. His generosity to friends, family and organizations was without limits.
Earl is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Duffy Froemke, Lisbon; his son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Angela, Hazen; six grandchildren, Steven and Sierra Froemke, Lisbon, and Jonathan, Jaydn, Joshua and James Affolter, Hazen; his mother, Geneva Affolter Nelsen, Bismarck; his brother, Dean Affolter, Mandan; his sister, Charlotte Liebelt, Aberdeen, S.D.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Charles J. Affolter; his wife, Gayle Affolter; and his stepfather, Mark Nelsen.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family prefers memorials be made to the Disabled Veterans of America.
Source: Bismarck Tribune, September 13, 2008
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