Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at First Lutheran Church in Blair, with graveside services in the Blair Cemetery. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 30, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home.

Alvan Edward Andersen was born Sept. 6, 1917, in a farm home in Washington County to Peter K. and Lydia (Petersen) Andersen.

He attended the Bell Center Grade School and then Herman High School. He received an honorable high school diploma due to his military service in World War II.

He grew up with his twin sisters, Adelia and Elveria, on the farm. He rode an Indian motorcycle, sometimes riding the motorcycle while standing on the seat.

He went into the Army in 1941 and became a paratrooper of the 503rd Parachute Battalion and made 28 jumps for his country. He served in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines and was honorably discharged in 1945. He then joined the Naval Reserves and was in the inactive Reserves for eight years and served in several national training cruises.

He took flying lessons from Byron Appleby and earned his pilot's license, then served in the Civil Air Patrol which was part of the Army Air Corps.

Mr. Andersen farmed the family farm in Washington County until the age of 62, when he retired early to care for his aging mother. He was an avid traveler; he visited all 50 states, made 31 trips to California and had been in 41 countries, including 11 trips to Europe, one trip to the Orient, and he flew in and out of 75 airports worldwide.

In March 1986, he married Connie Haley Bucy and he took her on many trips to different countries and five cruises with the Heritage group with Washington County Bank.

He is survived by his wife, Connie; five stepchildren and their spouses, Teresa and Dan Tierney and Peter and Becky Bucy, all of Omaha, Tami and Tom Christoffersen of Blair, Kathy and Lynn Petersen of Tekamah, and Judy and Keith Finken of Defiance, Iowa; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; a sister, Elveria of Sacramento, Calif., niece and husband, Susan and Charles Eggleston and their children and grandchildren, niece, Ronda Lee and her children, and many cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Adelia Streeter.

Memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church in Blair.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair is in charge of arrangements.