Obituary of Alfred W. Telford

Alfred W. “Al” Telford Age 87, of Colby, formerly of Abbotsford and Spencer, passed away Sunday, October 6, 2013 at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11AM on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby. The Rev. Daniel Hackel will officiate. Burial will follow in Abbotsford Public Cemetery with military rites conducted by Colby VFW Post 2227. Friends may call on Wednesday from 5:30PM until 7:30PM at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer and again on Thursday at the church in Colby from 9:30AM until time of services. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandson Mitchell Telford and his great grandsons: Russell and Garrett Fetting and Tucker Meyer. Alfred was born September 1, 1926 in the town of Reseburg in Clark County to George and Mary (Hendricks) Telford. He attended Fischer’s Grade School, Saint Hedwig Parochial School in Thorp and graduated from Abbotsford High School. He entered the United Sates Air Force in January 1946 and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. It was there that he self-taught the art of operating heavy equipment He proudly served his country during World War II until his honorable discharge August 1947. On June 15, 1948, Alfred married the former Jeanette Strade in the rectory at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Owen. She survives. In June of 2013 they celebrated their 65 wedding anniversary. Early on, Alfred was employed for the Clark County Highway Department. From 1952 until 1971 he and his wife operated a dairy farm in Thorp and later Spencer area. Later on, Alfred worked as a heavy equipment operator for Melvin Companies in Abbotsford until his retirement in 1988. Known for his hard work, Alfred loved operating his bulldozer and shaping and forming the land on road projects, earth moving projects and alike. In his spare time, he enjoyed doing some fishing, reading Westerns, playing cards with friends, listening to or watching the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badger games, camping and being long time members of the Central WI Campers Club Together, Alfred and Jeanette have fond memories of their travels to New York, California, Branson, New Orleans, Hawaii and many other places. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Colby, a former member of Saint Bernard’s Catholic Church in Abbotsford, a former member Abbotsford VFW #865 and current life member of Colby VFW Post 2227. Survivors include his wife Jeanette of Colby; one daughter Sandra Beisner of Spencer; two sons: Arlyn (Kathy) Telford of Colby and Alan Telford of Curtiss; seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren; two brothers: James (Nancy) Telford of Racine and William (Nancy) Telford of Wausau, many nieces nephews, other relatives and friends. Alfred was preceded in death by his parents and his mother-in-law and father-in-law. In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting memorials in Alfred’s name to either St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Colby or the American Disabled Veterans. The family expresses their sincere appreciation to Alfred’s caregivers and staff at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital on 3North and 4North (Palliative Care) especially Ashley, September, Kelly, Cheryl and Belinda Arrangements are entrusted to Life Tributes Funeral Home, Spencer. Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.