Obit: Telford, Alfred W. (1926 - 2013)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Telford, Hendricks, Strade, Beisner

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 09 Oct 2013

Telford, Alfred W. (1 SEP 1926 - 6 OCT 2013)

Alfred W. “Al” Telford, 87, Colby, formerly of Abbotsford and Spencer, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., on Thursday, Oct. 10, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby. Rev. Daniel Hackel will officiate. Burial will follow in the Abbotsford Public Cemetery with military rites conducted by Colby VFW Post 2227. Friends may call on Wednesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer, and again on Thursday at the church in Colby from 9:30 a.m. until time of services. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandson Mitchell Telford and his great-grandsons, Russell Fetting, Garrett Fetting and Tucker Meyer.

Alfred was born on Sept. 1, 1926, in the town of Reseburg in Clark County, to George and Mary (nee Hendricks) Telford. He attended Fischer’s Grade School, Saint Hedwig Parochial School in Thorp, and graduated from Abbotsford High School. He entered the United States Air Force in January 1946 and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. It was there that he self-taught himself the art of operating heavy equipment. He proudly served his country during World War II until his honorable discharge in August 1947. On June 15, 1948, Alfred married the former Jeanette Strade in the rectory at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Owen. She survives. In June 2013, they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Early on, Alfred was employed for the Clark County Highway Department. From 1952-71, he and his wife operated a dairy farm in Thorp and later the Spencer area. Later on, Alfred worked as a heavy equipment operator for Melvin Companies in Abbotsford until his retirement in 1988. Known for his hard work, Alfred loved operating his bulldozer and shaping and forming the land on road projects, earth-moving projects and the like. In his spare time, he enjoyed doing some fishing, reading Westerns, playing cards with friends, listening to or watching the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badger games, camping, and being a long-time member of the Central WI Campers Club. Together, Alfred and Jeanette have fond memories of their travels to New York, California, Branson, New Orleans, Hawaii and many other places. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Colby, a former member of Saint Bernard’s Catholic Church in Abbotsford, a former member of Abbotsford VFW #865, and was a life member of Colby VFW Post 2227.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanette, Colby; one daughter, Sandra Beisner, Spencer; two sons, Arlyn (Kathy) Telford, Colby, and Alan Telford, Curtiss; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers, James (Nancy) Telford, Racine, and William (Nancy) Telford, Wausau; and many nieces nephews, other relatives and friends.

Alfred was preceded in death by his parents and his mother-in-law and father-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting memorials in Alfred’s name to either St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Colby, or the American Disabled Veterans.

The family expresses its sincere appreciation to Alfred’s caregivers and staff at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital on 3North and 4North (Palliative Care) especially Ashley, September, Kelly, Cheryl and Belinda.

Arrangements are entrusted to Life Tributes Funeral Home, Spencer. Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com  to share condolences.