Alvin Brower

Alvin H. Brower, age 94, of Atwater, passed away Tuesday morning, July 21, at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Atwater.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service and will continue following the committal service at the cemetery.  Social distancing and wearing a facemask is required.  Memorials can be directed to Rice Hospice or Atwater Area Help for Seniors.  Arrangements are with the Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Al was born on September 9, 1925, in Willow Lake, SD., the son of Harm and Lena Brower.  He grew up with four sisters and one brother.  Al joined the U.S. Army in March of 1945 and was a Veteran of WW II.  On October 23, 1954, Al was married to Lena Ann Vanderwerf.  To this union they were blessed with two daughters, Deborah Kay and Darla Renee.  Al always had the gift of gab which made him a very successful salesman.  He worked for DeLavel & Minnesota Harvester for a number of years.  In 1977, he and Lena purchased the Willow Cove Restaurant in Atwater.  They owned and operated the business until 1987 when they retired.  Al was active in the Atwater community by serving in the Lions Club and Atwater City Council.  He was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, serving on the church council.  Al loved his church family.  His hobbies included golfing and tinkering in his garage and outside.  He was an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins and could always be found watching the games.  Al also enjoyed attending activities that his grandchildren were involved in.

He is survived by his loving wife, Lena Brower of Willmar; daughters, Debb (and Scott) Fredrick of Spicer and Darla Stradtmann of Eden Prairie; five grandchildren, Andrea (and Eric) Banks of Willmar, Blair Fredrick of Crookston, Kelsey Fredrick of Spicer, Ben (and Kim) Stradtmann of Van Wyck, SC., and Matt (and Sarah) Stradtmann of Kasson; nine great grandchildren, Gunnar, Gavin and Griffin Banks, Quintin and Aubreyana Fredrick, Jax and Skyla Fredrick and William and Emma Stradtmann; one sister, Lavon Wadsworth of Watertown, SD., besides many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Joyce Keiser, Delma Rasmussen and Norma Meis; one brother, Delmar Brower and two grandsons, Clint and Carl Fredrick.