Alvin "Al" Lloyd Edelmaier

August 23, 1930 - July 15, 2023

Alvin ''Al'' Lloyd Edelmaier
August 23rd 1930 - July 15th 2023

Al is survived by wife Joanne, brother Ray, daughter Denise, her husband Bill, sons David and Randy, and their wives Melanie and Jenny. Al is survived by 5 grandchildren: Claire, Caroline, Sarah, Benjamin, and Nathan. He also had 2 step grandchildren: Michele Cornejo who has three children, Mikayla, Gabriel, and Isaiah and step grandchild Sarah deAquinos. Al is survived by brother-in-law Ken Meier. Al is also survived by nieces, nephews, other family members and many friends. Al was preceded in death by his brother Lee Edelmaier and his brother-in-law Duane Meier.

Celebration of Life services will be held Sat. Aug. 26th, 2023, 11am at Daneri Mortuary in Jackson CA and Sept. 9th 2023 10am at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hooper NE. Interment will be at Hooper NE Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society honoring Alvin's memory and his battle with Hairy Cell Leukemia.

Al was born on August 23, 1930, in Ridgely Township, Dodge County, Nebraska. He was the son of Raymond Alvin and Lillian Magnelina (Dau) Edelmaier. He graduated from Hooper High School in 1949. He married Joanne Meier, the daughter of Herbert and Leona (Niebaum) Meier, also of Hooper, NE. February 22, 1953 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Hooper, NE. Al discovered his talent for electronics while in the Army which led him to telegraph school and eventually to obtain his Amateur Radio License (K0IJF). During the Spring of 1960 when the Missouri and Platte Rivers flooded and washed out the UPRR train tracks and the telegraph lines he was responsible for keeping the UPRR communications going between Omaha and Fremont using his Ham Radio which was the launch and highlight of his career. Al had a successful career of 35 years in the Union Pacific Railroad Communications Dept. at UPRR Omaha Headquarters managing their communication equipment, as he had a passion for change and keeping up with advancements in technology. Ham Radio became his lifetime hobby and he belonged to Radio Clubs throughout his life. Al retired from UPRR in 1989 and moved to Mokelumne Hill CA in the Sierra Foothills where he lived with his wife Joanne for the last 32 years.

Al courageously and tenaciously overcame health issues his entire life. He fought for life even from his first breath. As a child he had asthma until his teens. At 15, he had an accident with a tractor on the farm where he grew up and fortunately with Al's persistence the Dr saved his leg which was supported by a brace for the rest of his life. At 46 years old he was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia and was treated with experimental drug treatments, bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and radiation off and on for 47 years. As a result, Al had a high regard for his doctors and faithfully followed their medical advice until the end.

Al would tell you his greatest achievement in life was his marriage to his wife Joanne. During their marriage of 70 years, they raised 3 children, built 3 homes, traveled across the USA many times (including Hawaii) visiting family and friends, while staying true to their faith in the Lutheran church. Al was also a member of the Masonic Lodge for 65 years. Al will be remembered most as a faithful husband, wonderful father, true friend, a patriot and for his adventurous love of life.

Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com

Obituary Provided By:
Freeman Funeral Home
1249 E. 23rd St.
Fremont, NE  68025
www.ludvigsenmortuary.com