Alfred William Walck

Rev. Alfred W. Walck, Jr., June 26, 1921 – April 27, 2017, led a life rich in service to his Lord, Jesus Christ. He was both baptized (July 2, 1921) and confirmed (June 1936) by his father, the Rev. Alfred W. Walck Sr., and ordained by him on July 22, 1945, at Grace Lutheran Church, White Bear Avenue, St. Paul, MN. He served as an ordained minister for almost 72 years. Alfred attended or earned degrees from Minnehaha Academy, Mpls, MN, Augsburg College, Mpls, MN, Wartburg College, Waverly IA, Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA, and the University of Minnesota, Mpls, MN. On his way to the mission field, Alfred proposed marriage to the love of his life, Marion Dolores Garbisch, of Waltham, MN, who joined him for their wedding on Feb 6, 1947 in Lae, the Territory of New Guinea. They had 4 sons, 4 daughters-in-law, 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Alfred served as Missionary in Papua New Guinea for 26 years, 1946-1972, serving as a circuit missionary, a school teacher and principal, a teacher of pre-seminary students, and an editor of the church paper, The New Guinea Lutheran ( in 3 languages). After returning to the United States, Alfred served in the parishes of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN, Trinity Lutheran in Linn Grove , IA, St. Peter and St. Paul Lutheran Churches, in Brunsville/Merrill, IA. He further served as a Nursing Home Chaplain, as well as assistant/interim in Sioux City, IA, in Pine Island and Wykoff, MN, and in Ogden, Grimes, Clive, and Bouton, IA. Alfred is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marion, of Urbandale; his sons and their spouses, Rev. Dr. Leslie Walck of Colfax WI, Dr. John (Pam) Walck of Gig Harbor, WA, Ken (Chris) Walck of St Charles, MO, and Dan (Pam)Walck of Urbandale, IA; his 12 grandchildren, Callie Walck of St Louis, MO; Rachael (Jake) Barth of Roundup, MT; Dr. Kerryn (Scott) Redding of Seattle, WA; Emily (Perry) Marchio of Gig Harbor, WA; Matt (Chastity) Walck of Olympia, WA; Cassie (Andy Block) Walck of Longmont, CO; Shelby (Tim) Bolhafner of St Louis, MO; Dr. Elise (Ben Shannon) Walck-Shannon of St Charles, MO; Aaron (Kristen) Walck of Johnston, IA; Chris Walck of San Diego, CA; Meghan (Dr. Skyller) Stickfort of Des Moines, IA; Rachael (Nick Bartschat) Walck of Urbandale, IA; as well as 15 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and other relatives. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Alfred and Amanda Walck Sr.; his parents-in-law, Adolf and Alma Garbisch; his sisters, Gertrude Walck; Martha (Walt) Winnes; Amanda Walck; Dorothy (Don) Wendt; a sister-in-law, Gladys (Chuck) Warren; and a daughter-in-law, Megan Robertson Walck. He lived with gratitude for God’s Grace and dedication to serving Christ. He enjoyed a hobby of researching shapes and backgrounds of various forms of crosses, as well as a woodworking hobby of creating wooden crosses and religiously-themed plaques. He is remembered by family, former parishioners, colleagues and friends with love and appreciation. A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 5:30 PM, as a part of the regular Saturday evening service at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Urbandale, IA, Rev. Dan Kuckuck officiating, with a time for visiting, refreshments and fellowship after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
St Stephen Lutheran Church, 3510 72nd St, Urbandale, IA 50322
Faith Lutheran Church, 10395 University Ave, Clive, IA 50325, 
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, 
(checks can be made out to: Dan Walck, 10022 Tanglewood Drive, Urbandale, 50322, with “ELCPNG “ on the memo line) 
and the LSI’s Beloit Residential Treatment Center, 1323 Northwestern Ave, Ames, IA 50010