Obituary of Alfred Huehn

Alfred Huehn, age 92 years, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2009 at Grace Point Crossing East health care facility. His children were present on Monday to honor him and to assist in making the transition to reunite with his parents, wife and son Duane. Alfred Henry Robert Huehn was born on April 11, 1916 in Cumberland Wisconsin. He was the forth of five children born to Elizabeth (Asmidt) and Albert Huehn. His childhood was spent growing up on the family farm where he helped in planting and harvesting corn, rutabagas and growing pumpkins as feed for the cows. His nickname growing up was "Boyce". Even though he only attended school through the eighth grade, he had a lifelong thirst for learning and growing intellectually. This began early on when he spent so much time in the library. A favorite teacher assisted him in finding books of interest. She asked him about poetry and suggested that he read "The song of Hiawatha". It was this experience that generated Alfred's life long passion for writing poetry. At the age of 90 years old, he had created more than 33 poems that now reside in a book that will he passed on to future generations. One of his most touching creations was done after his mother's death in 1963. He titled this piece "Mothers Last Words." Besides poetry, he learned a great deal through reading books of all venues. When he was a teenager, one book gave him the idea of making a real live cannon. He and his sister Caroline proceeded to designed and build a four foot long cannon. Alfred figured out how to make black powder and they were all set! They attached fuses and used the cannon to split wooden boxes behind the farm house. Alfred was also interested in understanding how radios worked so he had to give that a try. He started this adventure and built radios out of old parts. All through his childhood he constantly demonstrated his creative abilities through learning and studying. Alfred first met Helen Pierson in the summer of 1938 when Helen was attending Rice Lake Normal school. They met at a house party and from that date forward were tied to each other. At the time, Alfred worked in Minneapolis at North Star Specialties, a war plant that made and assembled airplane parts. Helen moved to Minneapolis to work at the same company. They dated for nine years before getting married on June 28th 1947 in Minneapolis. Alfred and Helen saved their money and were able to afford their first house at 2544 32nd Avenue South. Their house payment was $48.00 a month! They started their family in 1948. They went on to have seven children; Marcia, Cheryl, Duane, Beth Ann, Bradley, Elaine and Melanie. When the forth child was born, they decided that their two bedroom Minneapolis home was to small so bought land to build a new house in Cambridge on Birch Street. Alfred was then working at Schlagels so also facilitated the move of the business to Cambridge. He became a co owner of Schlagels where he worked until his retirement in 1980. Alfred spent his whole life focused on the needs of his family. Providing and caring for them was his first priority. Because he strongly valued education and learning, he provided for a college educations for all his children. He continued to display his creative talents by making many unique games and yard toys for his children and grandchildren. These included an underground swimming pool, a whirl-a ma-jig, rudolph walkers of all types, a trampoline, a bicycle built for two, a playhouse and large sized building blocks! He was a wonderful grandfather and spent quality time teaching his grandchildren many values and standards. He was diligent as he made sure the family was well cared for. The darkest days of his life occurred in 1963 when his mother died and in 1974 when his 21 year old son, Duane, was killed in a car accident. Another tragedy occurred in 1998 with the death of his wife Helen. After this time, with strong family support, he proceeded to live alone in his home until he turned 91 years old and moved into the Cambridge Health Care Facility. He remained here until his death on February 2nd. Alfred was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers (Walter and William) and one sister (Emma Bringman), his wife Helen and his son Duane. He is survived by one sister, Caroline Farlow of Cumberland Wisconsin, his children; Marcia of Overland Park Kansas, Cheryl (Doug) Streit of Woodbury, Beth Ann (Steve) Schunk of Battle Lake, Bradley of Cambridge, Elaine (John) Brockopp of St. Michael, Melanie Francen of Maple Grove, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. Alfred will be remembered, loved and missed forever by his family.