Alvin "Buck" Armentrout
March 30, 1921 — July 30, 2014
Alvin Ross Armentrout, son of Cassie and Lillian (Silverwood) Armentrout, was born near Botna, Iowa, on March 30, 1921. He was better known as “Buck” a nickname his uncle Marion gave him when he was a little boy. He lived his entire life in the Shelby County area receiving his education in Kirkman and Irwin Consolidated Schools graduating in 1938. He and his wife Betty (Ahrenholtz) had been blessed with sixty-eight years together, living at the same location south of Irwin.
In partnership with his brother, Earl, they maintained a diversified farming operation until they retired in 1984. Alvin then started employment as groundskeeper for the Wilson Seed Company in Harlan, working in the Research Lab in the off season. He continued working for Remington Seed for twenty-seven years. He was the happiest when he was working. Even at the age of 90, he felt retirement was the worst decision he ever made. As his doctors often told him, “Don’t stop working, it’s just the best thing you can do.” And he always replied, “I grew up working. That has never hurt anybody, has it?” In 2005 he was nominated for Iowa’s Outstanding Older Worker Award.
Friends were important to him. After an introduction he knew their name, parents, where they lived, worked and he never forgot. Whoever drove in at the farm was always invited to share coffee and cookies. He also liked playing cards at the Pool Hall, his Pinocle club, Branson, farming, buying and feeding cattle, watching livestock auctions on RFD and bus trips. He was proud of his family and their ability to work together with love. He enjoyed his grandchildren and felt it a great privilege to enjoy the next family generation with the addition of great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Mae Pries, brother, Earl Armentrout and granddaughter, Megan Youngkin. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Betty, daughter Dianna and her husband Tom Gaer, LuAnne and her husband Hal Youngkin, four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.
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In partnership with his brother, Earl, they maintained a diversified farming operation until they retired in 1984. Alvin then started employment as groundskeeper for the Wilson Seed Company in Harlan, working in the Research Lab in the off season. He continued working for Remington Seed for twenty-seven years. He was the happiest when he was working. Even at the age of 90, he felt retirement was the worst decision he ever made. As his doctors often told him, “Don’t stop working, it’s just the best thing you can do.” And he always replied, “I grew up working. That has never hurt anybody, has it?” In 2005 he was nominated for Iowa’s Outstanding Older Worker Award.
Friends were important to him. After an introduction he knew their name, parents, where they lived, worked and he never forgot. Whoever drove in at the farm was always invited to share coffee and cookies. He also liked playing cards at the Pool Hall, his Pinocle club, Branson, farming, buying and feeding cattle, watching livestock auctions on RFD and bus trips. He was proud of his family and their ability to work together with love. He enjoyed his grandchildren and felt it a great privilege to enjoy the next family generation with the addition of great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Mae Pries, brother, Earl Armentrout and granddaughter, Megan Youngkin. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Betty, daughter Dianna and her husband Tom Gaer, LuAnne and her husband Hal Youngkin, four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.
PDF Printable Version
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