Obituary - Alvin John Gatzemeier

Alvin John Gatzemeier, age 70, died October 29th, 2022, after a hard-fought battle against cancer. He died in his home in Lakeside, Montana, surrounded by family.

He was born May 7th, 1952 in Havre, Montana, to Richard and Florence (Klindworth) Gatzemeier. He was preceded in death by his younger sister, Susan, in 1971 and later his parents.

Alvin is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Lynn) Gatzemeier; daughter, Kallie Gatzemeier; son-in-law, Justin Pearson; granddaughter, Dillon Pearson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Alvin graduated from Gildford High School in Gildford, Montana, in 1970. He attended some college at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. Shortly after, he began farming with his father on the family farm south of Gildford. Lynn and Alvin were married on October 13th, 1973 in Havre, Montana. They divorced and remarried on July 2nd, 1979 and welcomed their daughter Kallie in 1982. Alvin reluctantly retired from farming in 2017.

Alvin loved all things farming and couldn't wait to get up in the morning and drive the 30 miles to work. He enjoyed meeting friends for coffee in the morning at the 4-B's and getting together with his fellow farmers for a "meeting" at the bar to celebrate a good rain. He enjoyed nothing more than loading up a cooler of beer and going on a crop tour with friends. Over the years he grew a large toy tractor collection.

Alvin loved to BS, tell stories, and could make friends wherever he went with his great sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time at their cabin on Fresno Reservoir and boating and spent hours pulling Kallie and her friends on the tube and teaching her to waterski. He traveled all over and especially loved beaches and deep-sea fishing. He and Lynn spent many winters at their home in Gold Canyon, Arizona, enjoying the sunshine and four wheeling and made many good friends there.

He and Lynn moved to Lakeside, Montana, in 2017 where he enjoyed cruising his pontoon boat and jet skis on Flathead Lake and meeting friends for steak dinner every Thursday. Alvin was especially excited to spoil his granddaughter, Dillon. He loved Montana football, tailgating and had season tickets to watch the Grizzlies. In later years, Alvin enjoyed spending quality time with his family at the lake, barbecuing and sitting around the fire in the evening.

Alvin will be greatly missed by so many family and friends but very hard to forget. Keep his memory alive and in your heart by sharing your own favorite stories and memories of him when you can. Nothing would have made him happier than knowing folks continue to BS about the good times after he's gone.

Please join us in a Celebration of Alvin's Life Thursday, November 10th, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chuckwagon building at the Hill County Fairgrounds.

  Memorials or donations in Alvin's honor can be made to the Gildford Community Park. Please send those to Maria Borlaug at 19521 Rd. 80, South Gildford, MT 59525.

Please visit Alvin's online memorial page at http://www.hollandbonine.com to send a card or leave a message of condolence for his family.