Obituary of Alvin Edelmaier

Al is survived by wife Joanne, brother Ray, daughter Denise, her husband Bill, sons David and Randy, and their wives Melanie and Jenny. Al is survived by 5 grandchildren: Claire, Caroline, Sarah, Benjamin, and Nathan. He also had 2 step grandchildren: Michele Cornejo who has three children, Mikayla, Gabriel, and Isaiah and step grandchild Sarah deAquinos. Al was preceded in death by his brother Lee.

Celebration of Life services will be held Sat. Aug. 26th, 2023, 11am at Daneri Mortuary in Jackson CA and Sept. 9th 2023 10am at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hooper NE. Interment will be at Hooper NE Cemetery near his parent’s Raymond Alvin and Lillian Magnelina (Dau) Edelmaier resting sites and near where he was born. In lieu of flowers memorials will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society honoring Alvin’s memory and his battle with Hairy Cell Leukemia.

Alvin Edelmaier would have been 93 years old on Aug. 23rd. Al courageously and tenaciously overcame health issues his entire life. He fought for life even from his first breath. As a child he had asthma until his teens. At 15, he had an accident with a tractor on the farm where he grew up and fortunately with Al’s persistence the Dr saved his leg which was supported by a brace for the rest of his life. At 46 years old he was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia and was treated with experimental drug treatments, bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and radiation off and on for 47 years. As a result, Al had a high regard for his doctors and faithfully followed their medical advice until the end.

Al had been a resident of Boston Yale Ranch in Mokelumne Hill CA for the last 32 years which was his paradise. He fondly called it the “Tropics of the Sierras”. He moved to CA from Omaha NE with his wife Joanne in 1991 after he retired from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1989. Al had a successful career of 35 years in the UPRR Communications Dept. managing their communication equipment, as he had a passion for change and keeping up with advancements in technology. Al discovered his talent for electronics while in the Army which led him to telegraph school and eventually to obtain his Amateur Radio License (K0IJF). Ham Radio became his lifetime hobby and he belonged to Radio Clubs throughout his life. He was a member of the Amador Radio Club for many years and managed the maintenance of Mt Zion Repeater Tower. Al also had a passion for cars and driving them. He purchased over 90 different cars and trucks during his lifetime.

Al would tell you his greatest achievement in life was his marriage to Joanne Meier on Febr. 22nd 1953. During their marriage of 70 years, they raised 3 children, built 3 homes, traveled across the USA many times (including Hawaii) visiting family and friends, while staying true to their faith in the Lutheran church. Al was also a member of the Masonic Lodge for 65 years.

Al will be remembered most as a faithful husband, wonderful father, true friend, a patriot and for his adventurous love of life.