Alvin Matthew Theisen

Al (“Alvy”) Theisen passed away peacefully at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA on the morning of October 8, 2021 surrounded by his family. He was born March 8, 1933 in Cold Spring, MN, to Rose and Stephen Theisen. He was the third child out of 7 children (Harold, Helen, Sandy, Ermalyn, James and David). He joined the US Air Force in June of 1951. He married his high school sweetheart, Leona M. Dullinger, in December 1953. He retired from the Air Force in April of 1974, after 23 years of service, and was a Korean War Veteran. He became a computer programmer in the late 1950’s and stayed in that career field until his retirement from OPM as a manager of a computer specialists branch. He is survived by the love of his life and his wife of 67 years, Leona, and four living children, Marilynn Knowles (Richard L. Knowles, Jr.), Michael Theisen, Mark Theisen (Patty Theisen), and Deborah Peavey (Raymond Peavey). He is also survived by six grandchildren and their spouses (Renee Theisen [Jason Martin], Sharon Codispoti [Vinny Codispoti], Melissa Palmer (Nick Palmer], Mark Theisen, Jr., Christopher Theisen, and Katie Kihl [Steven Kihl]), two step grandchildren and their spouses (Sean Knowles [Melissa Knowles], and Shane Knowles [Jacki Knowles]), eleven great grandchildren and four step great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild. He is predeceased by his oldest son, Douglas (2016), his oldest brother Harold, and his sister Ermalyn. He was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church since 1968 when he and Leona moved to Arlington, VA. He was very involved in volunteer activities: VP for Membership of NARFE Chapter 7, Meals-on-Wheels as a route driver and dispatcher, Personal Advocate for the Arlington County Area Agency on Aging, Arlington THRIVE, and belonged to the Arimatheans, who participate in burial services at Arlington National Cemetery. He was named as Arlington County’s Volunteer of the Year in 2000. He was very generous to many charitable organizations. Al’s hobbies included feeding and watching the birds and squirrels, travel, fishing with his sons, boating, reading, learning new computer languages, and fresh water fishing in Minnesota when he was growing up. Although he enjoyed Minnesota, he did not miss the 7 month sub-zero winter season, or the summer swarms of mosquitos. He will be greatly missed by all. In lieu flowers, donations in tribute may be made to SOAR (https://www.soar-usa.org), St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (https://www.stjude.org) or Mercy Ships (https://www.mercyships.org). Burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date.