Obit: Minshall, Rev. Alan Charles (1940 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Adams, Frizzell, Heinz, Minshall, Nelson, Schmidt, Welch

----Source: The Hemer Funeral Home (Medford & Rib Lake, WI) 12/02/2017

Minshall, Rev. Alan Charles (4 SEP 1940 - 1 DEC 2017)

Alan C. Minshall, 77, of Holway, passed away on December 1, 2017 at Dycora Transitional Health and Living Center in Abbottsford.

A memorial service for Alan will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Holway, with Rev. Amy Heinz and Rev. Ken Schmidt officiating; burial will follow at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will take place at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Thursday, December 14, 2017 from 12:00 PM until the time of service at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Alan’s name may be given to Heifer International.

Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake has been entrusted with arrangements.

Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com. 

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----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI)

Reverend Alan Charles Minshall, 77, of the Township of Holway, died peacefully on Friday, December 1 in Abbotsford, after a lengthy illness. Alan was born September 4, 1940 in Kenosha, WI, son of Otto and Charlotte Minshall. He graduated from high school in Kenosha and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. He later attended divinity school at Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, receiving his Masters of Divinity in 1975.

Pastor Al has served six Wisconsin congregations as a parish minister, including: Prince of Peace Lutheran, Coloma; St. Paul’s Lutheran, Curtiss; Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Township of Holway; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pepin; Little Plum Lutheran, Pepin, and Independence Lutheran Church, Independence. Alan also worked as a Chaplain at the Northern Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled in Chippewa Falls, and for the Jackson County Correctional Institution in Black River Falls. He was an inspiring example of God’s love and grace.

Alan is survived by his wife of 35 years, Edith of Medford, and six children: Jay Minshall, Black River Falls; Jill Minshall, Madison; Radha (Mike) Welch, Granton; Rachel (John) Frizzell, Wisconsin Rapids; Paul Nelson, Medford; and Kathryn Adams, Rochester, MN. He was also grandpa to nine grandchildren: Maria, Michael, Brittany, Ariel, Sam, Seth, Kaleb, Molly and Emily, and one great-grandchild, Ainsley. He is also survived by many other family and friends who loved him.

A great lover of the earth, Alan was an avid gardener and hobby farmer. He delighted in his John Deere tractor, in growing vegetables and in raising belted Galloway cattle. He loved to travel, and took many memorable trips with his wife, colleagues, and children. With his love of music and his low bass singing voice, Alan was a founding member of the Gracenotes, a barbershop quartet of area pastors in Western Wisconsin. He was also an accomplished distance swimmer and loved racquet sports.

His accepting and generous spirit will be missed greatly by all who were privileged to know him. His faith, humor, kindness, his love for all growing things and his commitment to social justice will live on in all those whom he touched throughout his life.

A memorial service for Alan will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Holway, with Rev. Amy Heinz and Rev. Ken Schmidt officiating; burial will follow at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will take place at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Thursday, December 14, 2017 from 12:00 PM until the time of service at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family will collect donations to Heifer International in Alan’s memory. The organization works to empower the disenfranchised to improve their lives through animal management, sustainable agriculture and preservation of the earth’s resources.

The family would like to sincerely thank the dedicated staff of Dycora Transitional Health in Abbotsford for their personal care for Alan for the past three years.

Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake has been entrusted with arrangements.

Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.