1955,  Alvin Giesbrecht died on January 17, 2012, at age 87, in Salem, Oregon. He was preceded in death by Irene, his wife for 59 years, who passed away 3 months and 6 days earlier. Dad is lonely no more, and will never be again.

Alvin was born on March 13, 1924, in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada, to John and Katherine (Reimer) Giesbrecht, the 5th of 6 children. During the winters, he was sent to boarding school in Steinbach; summers were spent working on the family farm. After high school in Steinbach, he spent some of the war years working in a lumber camp and later worked for his brother Walter in his veterinary clinic in Winnipeg. He then moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to attend Grace Bible Institute, where he met Irene Ewert, the eldest daughter of the school business manager. They were married in 1952 and had four children over the next 8 years: Darrel, Hugh, Rae, and Murray. After obtaining his degree in education from Omaha University, he was a teacher or administrator at five different high schools in Kansas, Montana, South Dakota, and Oregon, before moving to Salem, Oregon in 1971 and finishing his career in education at Corbett High School, Corbett, Oregon. In retirement, Alvin stayed active in the leadership of his church, traveled extensively for missions, and was very involved with the Gideons. He enjoyed traveling; he enjoyed his many friends and relatives more. Following the recent death of his beloved wife Irene, his health declined, and he passed away quietly at home.

Alvin is survived by one sister, Marlene Guenther of Steinbach, MB); four children Darrel (Marcy) Giesbrecht of Omaha, NE; Hugh (Beth) Giesbrecht of Tecumseh NE; Rae (Bill) Knopp of Canby OR; Murray (Sue) Giesbrecht of Salem, OR; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 21st at Emmanuel Bible Church, 8512 Sunnyview Rd NE, Salem. The family requests that donations be made to the Gideons in lieu of flowers. Arrangments by Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Directors.