Alvin Siefkas…January 21, 1917 – March 30, 2015

Funeral services for Eads, CO resident, Alvin Siefkas will be held at 11:00 a.m, Saturday, April 4, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Eads, CO.  Interment will take place at Haswell Cemetery.  Visitation for Mr. Siefkas will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2015 at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Lamar.

Alvin Siefkas was born January 21, 1917, at Lacelle, Iowa to Fred and Ella Mae (Smith) Siefkas.  He passed away on March 30, 2015 in Pueblo, Colorado at the age of 98.

Alvin’s family moved to Haswell, Colorado, arriving August 1, 1920, when Alvin was 3 years old. He started school at the age of 4 and graduated from the Haswell School in 1934 in the middle of the depression and the dust bowl. He worked various jobs including the CCC Camp in Red Feather Lakes, while building up a cow herd with his dad and brother. By the end of the 30’s they had a farm of their own.

In February of 1942, after Pearl Harbor, Alvin volunteered in the Marine Corps, serving with the 2nd Marine Division in the South Pacific until his discharge in September, 1945. His unit received a Presidential Citation for “bravery beyond the call of duty” for their part in the battle on the island of Tarawa.

He and Louise Elizabeth Jacobs were married January 20, 1945. They raised 8 children while operating dairy farms first at Akron and then at Elizabeth.  During those years Alvin served on the Elizabeth school board, the Elbert County planning and zoning board and was elected as a board member on the Intermountain Rural Electric Association. He was named the Outstanding Conservationist of the Year for Elbert County in 1978. After he and Louise moved to Eads, he served on the Kiowa County planning and zoning board and on the Eads town board. He also served as trustee, deacon, and Sunday school teacher in the churches they attended in Elizabeth, Castle Rock, and Eads.

Alvin was preceded in death by his wife, Louise; daughter, Sharon Maleto;  granddaughter, Katherine Maleto;  daughter-in-law, Lesley Siefkas; parents, Fred and Ella Siefkas; brother, James Siefkas; sisters, Thelma Prescott, Mildred Jacobs, Ruby Weisdorfer, and Helen Siefkas.

He is survived by his children, Darnly  and husband, Larry Motter, Kim and wife, Donna Siefkas, Ricky Siefkas, Kevin and wife, Marsha Siefkas,  Kerry and wife, D Siefkas, Roxana and husband, Conrad Smith, and Craig Siefkas; 18 grandchildren,  a growing number of great-grandchildren; sister, Iola Geiger; numerous nieces and nephews along with many friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of donor’s choice in care of Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 950, Lamar, CO 81052.

For more information or to leave online condolences please visit www.valleymemorialfc.com.