Alfred "Al" Havel

Visitation with the family greeting friends will be one hour prior to the services at the First United Methodist Church, Belleville, KS on Saturday-10AM-11AM

       Alfred (Al) Havel, 93, died April 8, 2021.  He was born October 20, 1927, the fourth child of Alfred and Matilda (Klaumann) Havel.  Survivors are daughters Nita and husband Steve Newby, Sharon and husband Steve Larrick, son-in-law Carl Matousek, grandchildren Nathan Newby, Gloria Busenitz (Cody), Arlan Newby, Kara Hoegerl, Lydia Vazquez (Manuel), Kelcie Matousek, and Austin Hoegerl, five great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Warren Anderson, sister-in-law Faye and husband Leon Hagan, brother-in-law Roland McKee, and nieces and nephews.  Preceding him in death were his parents, parents-in-law William and Agnes Anderson, his wife, Phyllis, daughter Eileen Matousek, brother Virgil and his wife Alice (Sis), sisters Marcella (George) Thompson, Marjorie (Glenn) Bodin, Blanche (Gerald) Stanton, and Viola (Harold) Hedstrom, sisters-in-law Carrol Anderson, Ethelyn Lambott, and Wilda McKee, and eight brothers-in-law.

       Upon graduation from Cuba, Kansas High School in 1944, Al enrolled in the telegraphy course at Chillicothe Business College, and in January 1945 was employed by the Rock Island Railroad as an agent-operator at Esbon, KS during World War II.  At 18 years of age he entered military service in April, 1946 with the Army Air Corps and spent a year in Japan assigned to the 6^th Night Fighter Squadron at Yokota Air Base and later to the 339^th Night Fighter Squadron as a clerk-typist at base headquarters at Johnson Air Base, Tachikawa, Japan.   After completing his military service in September 1947, Al was employed as an office clerk at the Deshler, NE broom factory until a fire partially destroyed the factory in late December 1947. He then became a self-employed farmer-stockman in Republic County and also drove a school bus for 30 years for Belleville schools.

        On August 2, 1953, Al was married to Phyllis Anderson at Agenda, KS and they became parents of Eileen, Nita, and Sharon.  He was an active member of United Methodist churches in Agenda and Belleville.  He taught youth and adult Sunday school classes, sang in the choir, did lay speaking, and served on many of the church’s boards and committees.  One of his most enjoyable activities was singing in two male quartets which were accompanied by his wife, Phyllis, at Agenda and Belleville.  Al’s hobbies included woodworking, restoring antique furniture, making quilts for each grandchild, gardening, floriculture, and arranging home-grown and wild flowers which won many awards at the NCK Fair.  He and Phyllis chose dancing as one of their recreations, an activity they pursued as long as they were physically able.

          Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 17, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church, Belleville, KS with Rev. Sang Hak Lee, officiating.

          Interment will follow at the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, KS.    

          Visitation with the family greeting friends will be one hour prior to the services at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday from 10 AM until service time.

          Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, Belleville, KS or The Cuba Booster Club.

          Online condolences may be left at www.bachelor-surber.com

          Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS is in charge of the arrangements.

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