A Kompelien

Alexander Owen Kompelien was born at home on May 2, 1917, near Minneota, Minnesota, to Anton O. and Margaret Hofteig Kompelien, the fourth of nine children. His early schooling was in a rural one-room schoolhouse where all grades were taught by one teacher. His high school years were spent in Lake City, Minnesota, during the Great Depression. After graduation he attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. After one year, he went to visit his sister Thema in Glenview, Illinois. Owen met and married Dorothy Mompier in 1937. They became the parents of three daughters, Joyce, Gayle and Lexis. He worked for Baxter International as the Director of Purchasing. Owen had traveled a great deal in his work and was in Mountain Home, Arkansas, for the opening and start up of the Baxter plant. Upon his retirement, enticed by the beauty of the area the friendliness of the residents, he and Dorothy bought a home on the lake in Bull Shoals in 1975. Owen served on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Yellville for many years. He was a member of the Bull Shoals/Lakeview Rotary Club for 30 years, past president and Paul Harris Fellow. He was active in supporting many local politicians, and his generosity has assisted many local charitable organizations. He also generously supported Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan. He passed away at the Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 87 years, 6 months and 4 days. Survivors: by his wife Dorothy of Bull Shoals, daughters Joyce (Merv) Olson of Gardiner, Montana, Gayle (Bob) Chesebro of Greenville, South Carolina, and Alexis Zubow of Flippin; grandchildren Charissa Reid, David Olson, Kristen Chesebro, Naomi Olson, Todd Chesebro, Kevin Chesebro, Elizabeth Johnson, Julie Chesebro, Katherine Zubow, Margaret Hodges and six great grandchildren; sisters June Belling, Dagny Gniffke, Ramona Hanson and brother Robert Kompelien and Erling Kompelien Preceded in Death by: His parents, two sister, one brother and a grandson Funeral: A memorial service celebrating Owen's life will be Tuesday, November 9, 2004, at Kirby-Boaz Funeral Home Chapel, in Bull Shoals, at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Jerry Backus officiating. Memorials: memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 1400 I Street NW Suite 530, Washington, DC 20005. Honorary Bearers: Bull Shoals/Lakeview Rotary Club, Board of Directors of the Bank of Yellville and the Weekly Coffee Club at the Village Wheel.