Alvin Tetzloff
Alvin Tetzloff went Home to meet his Lord and Savior October 10, 2022. He was a resident at the Oregon Veterans Home in The Dalles.
Alvin Tetzloff was born on the homestead in Grant County, ND to Gustav and Pauline Tetzloff April 30, 1941. He was a second generation immigrant. It was a traumatic birth, delivered by midwives. He wasn’t expected to live, and if he did, the doctor said, he probably wouldn’t live to see his twelfth birthday. He was number twelve of 14 siblings.
His mother hemorrhaged after giving birth to the youngest baby girl. Alvin was almost three at the time of her passing. His father died when he was fourteen, and he went to live with Herbert and Clara Gunsch. Herbert was Alvin’s sister’s(Rosemary) brother-in-law. As a foster child living on the farm Alvin learned husbandry. When he became of age he joined the Navy.
When his tour was over, he returned to North Dakota where he met Renee Watson. They married April 6, 1963 at Bismarck, ND. They had their first daughter, Julie in 1964 and second daughter, Jamey in 1965.
Even though Alvin had only an eighth grade education, he found work in various trades. As a private businessman, he trimmed trees; then he worked for the City of Bismarck. He joined the Corp of Engineers at the Garrison Dam project in the mid-70’s and transferred to The Dalles in 1984. After an early retirement from the Corps, he attained his GED from Columbia Gorge Community College in 1999.
He enjoyed baking bread, developing his own special recipe. He liked to spend time outside camping, fishing, hiking, ice skating and sled riding with his family. He made home improvements, having been a jack of all trades. He always had time for his grandsons. One time when he took them camping, they packed the Pinto to the hilt, leaving only enough room for three bodies and a jar of peanut butter. He appreciated music and encouraged his offspring in their musical aspirations. Alvin was active in his church and enjoyed studying the Bible. Both Alvin and Renee practiced hospitality, always offering a cup of coffee and whatever they had on hand.
He is survived by two daughters, Julie (Benny) Parries, The Dalles; Jamey(David)Thorson, Oakland, CA; two grandsons, Eli(significant other, Alyssa Hauser), The Dalles; Daniel(Victoria)Parries, White Salmon, WA; four great-grandchildren: Ethan, Uriah, Violet and Luckess; his sisters: Rosemary Gunsch, Bismarck, ND and Ann Zoccole, Santa Cruz, CA; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Renee; his parents and his siblings: Arthur Tetzloff, Elma Haberstroh, Frederick Tetzloff, Reinhardt Tetzloff, Raymond Tetzloff, Arlene Ingalls, Adeline Dalke, Pauline Earls, Evelyn Sodervick, Ruben Tetzloff and Anita Welsh.
A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church in The Dalles Thursday November 3 at 10:00.
Arrangements for his cremation were made at Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in The Dalles.
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