Alvin Lee Wyckoff

Alvin L. Wyckoff, 96, of Ankeny, IA died on March 4, 2023. Al was born in DeKalb County, MO on December 12, 1926 to Chester and Helen (Barnes) Wyckoff. Following high school graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1944 during World War II, training as a tail gunner. While in the service, he was deployed as a belly gunner and also took up boxing. In 1946, he was honorably discharged from the Navy and attended the University of Missouri at Columbia using the GI Bill, graduating with a degree in Horticulture. While at Mizzou, he met the love of his life, Emily Margaret Haas. They were married on February 3, 1952.

Alvin taught veterans for a time in Lynn, MO and then moved to Weldon Spring, MO in 1953 where he continued teaching. In 1957, the family moved to Seymour, IA where he taught agriculture until 1966 and in Chariton, IA from 1966–1975. Later on, Al and Emily relocated to Ankeny, IA where he taught commercial horticulture at DMACC from 1975 until his retirement in 1992.

Al was an active volunteer in the community, serving on the board for Habitat for Humanity, was president of the Iowa Nut Growers Association, an elder in the Ankeny Presbyterian Church, and a member of American Legion Post #42. He was an avid turkey, pheasant, and deer hunter, continuing to hunt with friends and family throughout Iowa until 2021. This included his farm in rural Lucas County which he worked from 1967 and on.

His parents; siblings David, George, Eileen, Roy, Carolyn, Frank, Keith, and John; siblings in-law Eleanor Brown, Roger Haas, Marion Cloninger, and their spouses; son-in-law Charles Clabough, and nephews Craig Wyckoff, Chester Wyckoff, Daniel Brown, and neice Linda Stevenson Cook preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Emily; sons Joseph “Alan” (Karen) Wyckoff, Winston (Julia) Wyckoff, and Daniel “Lee” (Chris) Wyckoff; and daughters Nancy (Gary) Courter and Kathryn Clabough. He was a loving grandpa to 12 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren, and two step-great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Marie Daniels, Lois (Gerald) Reynolds, and Mary (Duane) Hankins; and brother Everett (Linda) Wyckoff, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

We will remember him when we water our plants, bite into a ripe tomato fresh from the garden, drink an A&W Root Beer, enjoy an ice cream cone after dinner, sort through piles of junk mail, and hold on for dear life as the passenger in a car. How incredibly lucky our family was to love and be loved by him.

Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation at Ankeny Presbyterian Church from 5 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 9th. A memorial will be held at noon on Friday, March 10th at Ankeny Presbyterian Church.

Please direct any memorial contributions to Habitat for Humanity in memory of Al.

Inurnment at a later date.