Alvin O. Cornelius was born August 13, 1919 in Lisbon Township, Yellow Medicine County, to John and Mary (Amundson) Cornelius. He was baptized and confirmed in Bergen Lutheran Church of rural Granite Falls, Minnesota. He attended school in District 77 in Lisbon Township and graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1939. Alvin farmed for a short time before he was inducted into the Army. He served in World War II from April 4, 1941 to September 5, 1945 in the States, European, North African, and Mediterranean Theatre of War. He served in the 34th and 3rd Infantry Division called the "Viking Division". He was wounded in North Africa and again as he was captured on the Anzio Beachhead in Italy. He was missing in action for six months and Prisoner of War for fifteen months in Stalag IIB near Danzig, Poland and later in Germany. He was awarded the "Purple Heart". In 1946 Alvin moved to San Diego, California, where he worked as an auto mechanic for over forty years with his brothers, James and Virgil. Alvin married Ruth Anderson in 1947 in Arizona. Their children include David (and Susan) Cornelius, Eric and Sara; Susan (and Bill) Rowden, Collen, Tamsen, Laurel, and Jared all of San Diego, California; Terry Cornelius and Davin Cornelius of Scottsdale, Arizona. He moved back to Clarkfield, Minnesota, in 1991. He was a life member of both VFW Post 3871 Granite Falls, Minnesota, and the DAV Veteran Chapter 24, Milan, Minnesota. Alvin was hospitalized for a short time and admitted to the Clarkfield Care Center December 13, 1996 with cancer. He passed away January 29, 1997 at the age of 77 years. He is survived by his family; brother, Virgil (and Vernice) Cornelius; sisters: Armenta Frichtel and Doris Morland of Clarkfield, and Janice (and Gerald) Kietzmann of Granite Falls, Minnesota; sister-in-law Ruby Cornelius of Montevideo, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews. Alvin was preceded in death by his parents; brothers James, Ward, and Chester; brothers-in-law Edward Frichtel and Arden Morland. Blessed be his memory. Funeral Service Saturday, February 1, 1997, 2:00 p.m., Bergen Lutheran Church, Stony Run Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Officiant, Pastor Dave Mesner Organist, Kathy Dufrane Soloist, David Rupp "How Great Thou Art" "The Lord's Prayer" Congregational Hymns "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" "Battle Hymn of the Republic" Honory Casket Bearers Grandchildren Davin Cornelius, Collen Rowden Eric Cornelius, Tamsen Rowden Sara Cornelius, Laurel Rowden, Jared Rowden Nephews James Cornelius, Dellis Kietzmann David Kietzmann, Dean Cornelius Robert Cornelius, Dennis Morland, Duane Morland Final Resting Place Bergen Lutheran Cemetery, Stony Run Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota