Alvin Gustav Sundell

Alvin Gustav Sundell, 86, of Wakefield, Nebraska died on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at the Wakefield Health Care Center in Wakefield, Nebraska. Funeral services for Alvin will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield; Pastor Darwin Garton will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Tuesday from 3:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the Bressler ~ Munderloh Funeral Home in Wakefield. The family will be present from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday. There will be a Masonic and Eastern Star service held at 7:00 P.M. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by the Wakefield American Legion Post #81 Alvin was born on April 14, 1925, on the family farm south of Wakefield, Nebraska, the eldest of two sons of Albert T. and Helen E. (Robertson) Sundell. Alvin died on September 17, 2011, at the Wakefield Health Care Center. He was 86 years old. He attended Bell Country School through 8th grade and finished his high school education at Wakefield High School. Upon graduation in 1942, he continued farming with his father until being called to duty with the Army on August 31, 1944. He took his Infantry Basic Training at Camp Walters, Texas. January 1945, he left the east coast on the Queen Mary to serve his country during World War II. He served with the 407th and 16th Infantry Regiments and was Honorably Discharged June 28, 1946. Alvin returned to farming and retired from active farming in the mid 1990’s. Alvin married Mary Ellen Kingsbury December 21, 1949. They are parents of Suellen K. (Koepke) and Sarilyn E. (Stine). He has been active within the Wakefield community his whole life. Alvin served on the Wakefield School Board for many years and was recognized with Honorary Membership in the National Honor Society. He organized and implemented the Flag Raising Ceremony on the first day of school for 57 years. This fall was the first ceremony he missed due to health reasons. Other organizations and boards that Alvin was involved with include, but not limited to, are: Salem Lutheran Church; Wakefield (Hospital) Health Care Center; Wakefield Senior Center; Nebraska Area on Aging Agency; Lower Elkhorn NRD; Wayne County Weed Control District; Soil Conservation Service; Wayne County R.E.A.; and a Golden Harvest Seed Company Dealer. He also enjoyed many social clubs within the community. Alvin was very active with Masonic Organizations including Corinthian Lodge # 83, A.M. & F.M.; Wayne Chapter # 194, Order of the Eastern Star; ABU Bekr Shrine, A.A.O.N.M.S. As a former military serviceman, he was an active member holding various offices with the Allen Keagle Post #5765, VFW; and the American Legion Post #81. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; two daughters Suellen and husband Lonnie Koepke of Broken Bow, Nebraska; Sarilyn and husband Gary Stine of Valley Center, California; and three granddaughters Miranda (Koepke) Stoll and husband Dan; Marisalynn Koepke; Emily Stine; and one grandson Michael Stine. He is also survived by 3 nephews Ted Sundell, Steve Sundell, and Rick Sundell and their families. Alvin was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Lawrence and sister-in-law Marjorie.