Full Obituary

     KENNETH L. ALGER, age 84, of Thorp, WI, passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital, in Eau Claire, on Friday, March 8, 2019.  Funeral services will be held at 11am on Friday, March 15, 2019 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Thorp.  Rev. Daniel Vang will officiate, and burial will follow in Sylvan Cemetery, rural Thorp.  Pallbearers will be: Eric Alger, Scott Alger, Loren Alger, Lance Haas, Travis Haas, Eric Strzok, Jeff Strzok and Ryan Strzok.  Military rites will be conducted by the Thorp V.F.W. Post #9057.  Visitation will be held at the church, on Friday, from 9am until time of service.
     Kenneth Lloyd Alger was born on January 17, 1935 on the home farm in the Town of Warden, rural Thorp, to Sidney F. and Louise F. (Anton) Alger.  He was raised on the family farm and received his education at Bicentennial School Grade School.  At age 18, Ken went to work for Stanley Corporation, in Stanley, WI, until being drafted into the U.S. Army on May 5, 1955.  He served until his honorable discharge on April 25, 1957.  Ken returned to Thorp and continued working for Stanley Corporation.  He was united in marriage to Betty J. DeSota on June 15, 1958 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Stanley.  Ken continued to work at Stanley Corporation until becoming employed with National Presto in Eau Claire.  In 1963, they purchased a farm near Thorp, which they farmed and he continued working at National Presto.  In 1968, they sold the farm.  After National Presto closed in 1975, Ken then went to work for Steve Dus at the Thorp Lumberyard, driving truck.  He continued to work at the lumberyard after Steve sold it to Tom Hempelman in 1981, and remained employed there until retiring in 2004.
     Ken was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where he served as an elder, trustee and usher.
     He had many interests, but especially loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, deer hunting, and fishing at Miller Dam with his family.  Every Saturday from spring until fall, he would make the kids go fishing with him at Miller Dam.
     When Ken's father was living, he used to tell the story every year on Ken's birthday, about how he wore out 3 teams of horses traveling into town in a snow storm to get the doctor and bring him back to the farm to deliver Ken.
     He will be dearly missed by his wife, Betty, of Thorp; 3 sons: Keith of Thorp, Brian (Delores) of Greenwood, Chris (Brenda) of Edgar; 4 grandchildren: Nicole Alger of Sparta, Cody (Kristen) Alger of Edgar, Michael Alger of La Crosse, Justin (Kourtney) Alger of Edgar; one great-grandson: Brantley Alger; one brother: Gerald "Jerry" (Sue) of Mukwonago, WI; 4 sisters: Arlene (Norbert) Seichter of Boyd, WI, Joanne Ruff of Milwaukee, Jeanne Stelter of Milwaukee, Carol (David) Teclaw of Excelsior, MN; 2 sisters-in-law: Lorraine Alger of Stanley, Maxine Alger of North Branch, MN; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
     Ken was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter: Kim Marie Alger on October 10, 2013; one sister: Sandy Erickson; and 4 brothers: Sidney Jr., Jack, Richard "Dick", and Bill Alger.