Alan S. Halvorsen, age 86, of Barnes, WI passed away on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at his home.

Al Sylvester Halvorsen was born in La Crosse, WI on March 30, 1934 to Jewett and Luella (Casberg) Halvorsen. He grew up in Holmen, WI and graduated from Holmen High School with the Class of 1952. His friends and classmates nicknamed him “Windy” as he liked to tell long stories. The nickname stuck for many years thereafter. Following high school Al attended barber school in Eau Claire and after completion he returned to Holmen and joined his father in running the barber shop. Upon his father’s death Al became Holmen’s only barber and continued in the shop for more than 30 years. He related that in the early years it was not unusual for the local farmers to barter, trading produce or newly butchered beef for a haircut or beard trim or for a local fisherman to trade a string of freshly caught trout as payment for services. Al also worked at Trane Company in La Crosse as a machinist and retired from there in 1996. He was an active member of Holmen Lutheran Church serving on the church’s council. He also served on the Gateway Area Boy Scout Council. He was a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and the American Legion, and most recently as a volunteer serving the Barnes VFW. Al was an avid sportsman and an accomplished marksman. He enjoyed trapshooting and excelled in hand gun shooting competitions, winning several state titles. His other hobbies included reading, reading, reading, woodworking, gardening and golf. He was also a dog lover and enjoyed duck hunting along the Mississippi and Trempealeau rivers near Holmen and fishing those same areas. Al was married in 1998 to Marilyn (Small-Stone) Halvorsen. In 2000 they moved north to Barnes and built their retirement home on Pickerel Lake. Al continued to barber for friends and family until the time of his death.

Al is survived by his wife Marilyn and by four daughters; Linda Ravenwind of Washburn, WI, Evergreen Susan (Paul) Amundson of Washburn, WI, Kara (Scott) Pelowski of Oak Creek, WI and Heidi (John) Schiefelbein of Onalaska, WI, five grandchildren; Sarah (Dan) Miles of Trempealeau, WI, Marty Schmal of La Crosse, WI, Adam Pelowski of Milwaukee, WI, Nickolas Pelowski of Naples, FL, and Rayna Schiefelbein of Onalaska, WI and great grandchildren; Wren and Tate Miles.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Due to the current pandemic a private gravesite committal service will be held next spring. Al will be buried at the Halfway Lutheran Church Cemetery in Holmen, WI.

Last Update: Nov 23, 2020 1:19 pm CST