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One day on his way to Detroit for a Al and instructor Aaron make their Butterfly by planting common milkweed,
new job, a friend asked Al to deliver a descent. zinnias and other flowers favorable to this
letter to the South Bend Tool and Die butterfly.
Company in Indiana. He was hired on Al has an active social life. He belongs
the spot and worked there for a total of to the Wisconsin Club and on Tuesdays Al visits the fitness center on occasion to
40 years, spending the first 20 years as participates in a card game called lift weights and to keep his core strong.
a journeyman tool and die maker. World “Sheepshead.” Every Friday he plays golf “I gotta keep my physique in good shape,”
War II was raging at that time and Al and he is an active member of the Low he explains, adding that he doesn’t want
was providing Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Vision Group. If that isn’t enough to keep “that middle-age pouch to form.”
with the tools they needed to build the him busy, Al also works with Kimberly
parts for the aircraft engine used during Garrett, director of Georgetown Parks When asked about the other items on his
the war. Because of this important work, and Recreation, on a program to help bucket list, Al’s whole face brightens and
Al was exempt from military service. the dwindling numbers of the Monarch his eyes twinkle. “I had three goals,” he
Eventually, Al became vice president of says. “The first was to dog sled in Alaska,
sales and worked his East Coast territory which I did in the summer of 2016. My two
for another 20 years. remaining goals are to see the northern
lights in Fairbanks – which my cousin
In 1960 during a sales trip to New York, in Portland is arranging this March or
Al met his future wife, Eleanor Clark. April – and the other is to see my twin
He was immediately smitten with her. grandsons graduate from college in four
They married in 1961, and honeymooned years. Maybe then I’ll skydive again.”
in Las Vegas. Two years later their only
child, Dave, was born. Al became a Little Al loves life and sees it as a divine gift
League umpire and soccer coach while from God to be shared and embraced. He
Dave played sports. considers himself to be an enthusiastic
adventurer. He appreciates the past,
Al and Eleanor retired to Sun City, embraces the present and looks forward to
Arizona in 1983 where they lived for 21 what the future may bless him with. His
years. In 2004 they decided to move to motto is “keep singing and keep smiling.”
Sun City Texas to be near their Austin- Without a doubt, Al is living his motto to
based grandsons Kevin, Jason and Ryan. the fullest every day.

To celebrate their 40th wedding Everyone celebrates a successful jump.
anniversary, Al and Eleanor went back to
Las Vegas, taking along two of his sisters.
Sadly, Eleanor died in 2010 on their 49th
wedding anniversary. Al was asked how,
after so many wonderful years with his
beloved Eleanor, he managed to continue
to embrace life so passionately. He smiled
and said, “I don’t look at it like that. I have
all these wonderful memories of our life
together and those fill me with joy. I am
so thankful I had 49 years with her.”

Al continues to keep busy. He loves stage
work, and for 20 years helped with set
construction in Arizona and at the Palace
Theatre in Georgetown, stopping only
once his vision became impaired. He is
an active Kiwanis member and assists
with their biannual garage sales. He does
a little yoga at home and walks around
the neighborhood with a friend for about
30 minutes a day.

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