Alvin Roy Ahlgrim's Obituary
Alvin Roy Ahlgrim (“Al,” “Doc A”) was born December 15, 1947 to Melvin and Arla (Zierke) Ahlgrim in Brainerd, Minnesota, where he grew up with his older brother Arleigh and younger sister Marla. He passed away peacefully August 20, 2024 with his family in Oregon City, Oregon. Al loved telling stories about growing up in West Brainerd. Inurnment will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd, along with his parents.
Al graduated from Washington High School in Brainerd in 1966, Brainerd Community College in 1968, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Police Training in 1973. He went on to complete his B.A. in General Science at the University of Oregon in 1981, and his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon in 1985. While in school, he was proud to be a member of the International Order of the DeMolay, to receive commendations for his Police Training performance, and to be the first U.S. Optometry student to be granted the opportunity to complete his internship in the Army Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany.
As a college student in Brainerd, Al and friends had a rock and roll band that rocked the dance halls of Crow Wing County and covered their living expenses. Al went on to briefly attend Saint Cloud State before taking a break from college to pursue a career in law enforcement with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department. Al then moved from St. Cloud to Eugene, Oregon where he was recruited to work with the Lane County Sheriff’s Department and the Eugene Police Department.
In 1978, Al married Terry Virant. In Eugene, he finished his Bachelor of Arts degree in General Science to prepare for Optometry School. While there, he developed many amazing friendships, including with foreign students he tutored in English. In 1981, Al and Terry moved to Forest Grove, Oregon where Al attended Optometry School, and he finished his degree in 1985. From there, they moved to Oregon City, Oregon. Al practiced optometry in Clackamas County until 2006.
Along the way, Al used his great mind, wit, and wisdom to establish impressive collections, friendships, and hobbies. Lifetime pursuits included collecting coins and stamps, painting landscapes, documenting his genealogy back to the 1400’s, photographing trains and birds with DSLR cameras, summitting most of the major mountains in Oregon, traveling to all 50 states with Terry, and documenting his sightings of over 600 different bird species in the United States and Canada.
Al is survived by his wife, Terry (Virant), daughters Amanda (Jeremy Szabo), and Alison (Matt Covert), son, Alvin Jr. (Moritz Arjes), his sister Marla Kunkel, many nieces and nephews, and 3 granddaughters (Haley, Autumn, and Kikkan) whom he adored, and they adored him. Al is preceded in death by his parents Mel and Arla Ahlgrim and his brother Arleigh Shaw.
In lieu of a Memorial Service, please spend time in the great outdoors watching for birds and climbing mountains; cheer on Al’s favorite teams (Brainerd Warriors, Oregon Ducks, and Minnesota Vikings); observe the world and people around you and share your stories with others.
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