Albert "Al" Lind, 87, of Fort Collins, CO, died November 26, 2013 at Fort Collins Good Samaritan Village.
Born May 6, 1926 in Windsor Colorado to Jacob and Katherine Stoll Lind, Al grew up in Windsor and graduated from Windsor High School, Class of 1944. In high school, Al lettered in track, basketball and football.
Al served in the U. S. Army as a Tech 4th Grade with 752 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion in the Pacific Theatre in Saipan. Inducted 12/18/44 and was Honorably Discharged 8/24/46.
Like many other Germans from Russia in northern Colorado, Al and his family worked in the sugar beet fields. The trait of hard work he displayed in the beet fields in the 1930's and 40's was a trait he possessed throughout his life.
He was the shortstop for the 1949 Colorado State Championship Fast Pitch Softball Team playing for the Windsor Merchants. The Merchants went on to represent the state in the World Softball Tournament held in Greeley.
He worked as a Gas Fitter Serviceman with Public Service Company of Colorado. He started with PSC in Windsor in 1949 transferred to Ft. Collins in 1954 and retired in 1986 after 38 years with the company.
On October 29, 1955, Al married Wanda Lea Ewan in Fort Collins and together had two children, LuAnn and Alan.
Al was proud of his heritage (Germans from Russia) and his family. Al remained close to his 13 brothers and sisters throughout his life. He was blessed with 32 nieces and nephews.
Al loved working with his hands. He was the driving force in his family to build a new home for his mother in Windsor on Walnut Street. Along with family and friends, he built his home in Fort Collins in 1955, where he lived until moving to the Good Samaritan Village in 2011.
Al was an avid fan of fast pitch softball and was a huge baseball fan of the New York/San Francisco Giants. He was especially pleased when the Giants won the World Series in 2010 and 2012.
Al loved to do construction projects around the house. Along with building his mother's house in Windsor and his home in Fort Collins, Al worked and managed his rental properties in Fort Collins and Windsor.
A life long Christian, Al was a member of the Peak Community Church in Fort Collins. He was also a member of the American Legion in Windsor.
Al was most proud of having a good family, a good job and good health.
He was also proud of building his mother's house. He was able to provide her indoor plumbing and central heating in her home for the 1st time at her age of 55 years old.
Al was the 1st child in his family to graduate from high school. He was grateful for the opportunity to complete his high school education while many of his brothers and sisters were required to work during The Great Depression.
Al had very few regrets: one, being that his wife, Wanda died in 1985 and couldn't share retirement together. He was also sad knowing that his relatives in Siberia were suffering under Communist rule while he and his family were living much better lives in the United States. He was disappointed when he was unable to travel to Siberia in 1996 to see those relatives.
Al was one of the most humble people you could ever meet. He had a dry sense of humor and enjoyed the company of others. He embodied the traits of "The Greatest Generation".
Having grown-up in a 900 sq. ft., 1 bedroom house during The Great Depression with his large family he never forgot the value of a dollar. He never wanted to be rich, he just didn't want to be poor.
He is survived by his daughter, LuAnn Lind and (Miguel Gonzales) of Northglenn; his son, Alan (and Julie) Lind of Castle Pines; grandchildren, Alex Lind, Emma Foster and Deanna Lind; His siblings, Paul and Shirley Lind of Greeley, Robert and Elmer Lind of Windsor, Ruth and Charles Propp of Fort Collins, Bill and Joan Lind of Colorado Springs and Wilma and Jack Winter of Ault; and 32 nieces and nephews.
Al was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda who died at the young age of 55; siblings, Kathryn Ehlert, Reuben Lind, Leah Lebsack, Karl Lind, Irene Dietz, Ben Lind and Mary Miller.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, December 2nd in the Ft. Collins Good Samaritan Village Chapel. Visitation will be from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. Monday at Good Sam. Interment 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 3rd at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Staging Area A.
A reception will follow the service on Monday December 2nd at 3:30 p.m. at the Moot House Restaurant, 2626 S. College Ave, Fort Collins, CO
Goes Funeral Care of Fort Collins is assisting Al's family. Please go to
www.goesfuneralcare.com
and click Albert's name to see his online obituary and offer any thoughts, memories and condolences to his family.
Donations can be made on behalf of the Albert Lind Memorial Fund to Peak Community Church, 500 Mathews St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Al's family sends out a thank you to the loving and caring staff at Good Samaritan Village – Fort Collins.
Three words that sum up the life of Al Lind: Humble, Caring, Family