Alvan G. Sander - Belview

Alvan G. Sander, 87, of Belview, MN passed away on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the Parkview Home in Belview. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 28, 2014 at Grace Lutheran Church in Belview. Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 pm on Sunday at the Sunset Funeral Home in Echo and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Burial will follow the service at the Grace Lutheran Cemetery in Belview. A luncheon will be held at the Alvan Sander and Son’s Shop in Belview following the committal service at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please give to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be placed at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family. Alvan G. Sander was born on December 15, 1926 in Swedes Forest Township to Tyler and Emma (Grannes) Sander. He was baptized on January 31, 1927 and confirmed on June 1, 1941 at 1st Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belview. He attended and graduated from Belview Public School in 1945. On September 5, 1953, Alvan was united in marriage to LaVonne (Luepke) Sander at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Echo, MN. They made their home in Rural Echo until 1966 when they moved into Belview. From 1949 – 1956, Alvan worked with Omtvedt Construction. He also dug basements over the years at several local churches in the area. In 1956, Alvan and his brother started the Alvan and T. Eugene farm drainage, which is currently known as Alvan Sander and Sons, LLC. In 1978 his sons, Marlo and Curtis, became business partners with their father and in 1988, Alvan officially “retired” from ownership and Marlo and Curtis took over the family business. In the past year and a half when he couldn’t drive anymore, he always enjoyed road trips around the river bottom telling stories of where he did work, grew up, history of events, and just to talk. He looked forward to daily check in reports from his sons on work progress, wanting to always know how many feet were tiled or how many loads of gravel were hauled. Alvan was also active with the Belview Fire Department and Ambulance for 22 years, Booster Club, church council, and city council. Alvan enjoyed Whist at early morning coffee, Buck Euchre, deer, pheasant, and duck hunting, trap shooting, bowling league, fishing, and amateur boxing. He was known for his BBQ chicken for S.O.D. Days and for his smoked turkey. In his free time, he was the “go to” guy for plumbing problems. On Wednesday, July 23, 2014, Alvan passed away at the Parkview Home in Belview at the age of 87 years old. He is survived by his wife, LaVonne Sander of Belview; children, Marlo (Kim) Sander of Belview, Curtis Sander of Belview, Alan Sander of Belview, and Paula (Brian) Panitzke of Granite Falls; 6 grandchildren, Sommer (Eric) Day, Sunni (Anthony) Hemingsen, Aaron Sander, Jamie Sander, Keysha Panitzke, and Tangela Panitzke; 5 great-grandchildren, Henry and Greta Hemingsen, Spencer and Bailey Day, and Jadon Sander; siblings, T. Eugene (Margaret) Sander of Belview, and Amy Werner of Belview; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tyler (1966) and Emma (1992), brother, Orris (1968) (Nellie) Sander, great-grandson, Gabrielle Sander (2011), and brothers-in-law, Bruce Huntemann and Robert Werner. Blessed be his memory.