Crawford Funeral Chapel, Inc.

Print Obituary | Back

Rev. William H. Allwardt Feb 14 2009
Funeral services for Rev. William Henry Allwardt, age 67, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, in the St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Watertown. Rev. William Russow and Rev. Keith Petersen will officiate. Music will be provided by Nancy McClanahan as organist with the Great Plains Lutheran High School Honors Choir. Bill passed away on February 14, 2009, at the hospital in Watertown. Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown. Pallbearers will be Gordon Goens, Kenneth Grothaus, David Krause, David Myers, Lavern Swenson, and Jeffrey Roloff. Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Wednesday, by 10:00 a.m., for a prayer service. Bill was born on March 23, 1941, at Detroit, MI, to Rev. Henry and Mary (Graetz) Allwardt. As a child, he lived in Marysville, OH; Arenzville, IL; and Vandalia, IL. Bill graduated from Vandalia High School in 1959. He attended college in Greenville, IL, graduating in 1963. On August 18, 1963, Bill married Arlene Jacobs at Springfield, IL. He continued his education at Concordia Seminary in Springfield. He served his vicarage in West Point, NE, and was ordained into the Ministry in 1967. Bill served Zion Lutheran Church in Wolseley, Sask. and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Indian Head, Sask. from 1967 until 1971. In January of 1972, he moved to Gary, SD, serving First Lutheran Church in Gary and Trinity Lutheran Church in Hendricks, MN. In 1975, he moved to Valley City, ND, where he served St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Valley City and James Valley Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND. In 1986, he moved to Winner, SD, and served Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Witten, SD. In 1999, he moved to South Shore, SD, where he served Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Goodwin, SD. At the time of his death, he was semi-retired, serving the Goodwin congregation where he was a member. He was active at Great Plains Lutheran High School in Watertown, SD, where he coached football and golf, announced the basketball games, and was on the board of directors. He enjoyed interacting with the students, especially the football players. He described his time coaching as “having the time of my life.” Bill enjoyed puzzles, games, and sports, especially his Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings. He had a life-long fascination with trains, designing and constructing model railroads, and collecting railroad memorabilia. Bill and Arlene had always dreamed of driving the Alaska Highway, and in 2007, they took their dream vacation, spending a month in Alaska. Bill is survived by his wife, Arlene, of Watertown, SD; three daughters: Karen Allwardt of Fargo, ND, Brenda Allwardt of Watertown, SD, and Debra Allwardt of Macomb, IL; one sister, Marjorie Penhalegon, of Findlay, OH; two brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John; and two brothers-in-law.

Rev. William H. Allwardt
Feb 14 2009

Funeral services for Rev. William Henry Allwardt, age 67, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, in the St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Watertown. Rev. William Russow and Rev. Keith Petersen will officiate. Music will be provided by Nancy McClanahan as organist with the Great Plains Lutheran High School Honors Choir. Bill passed away on February 14, 2009, at the hospital in Watertown.

Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown. Pallbearers will be Gordon Goens, Kenneth Grothaus, David Krause, David Myers, Lavern Swenson, and Jeffrey Roloff.

Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Wednesday, by 10:00 a.m., for a prayer service.

Bill was born on March 23, 1941, at Detroit, MI, to Rev. Henry and Mary (Graetz) Allwardt. As a child, he lived in Marysville, OH; Arenzville, IL; and Vandalia, IL. Bill graduated from Vandalia High School in 1959. He attended college in Greenville, IL, graduating in 1963.

On August 18, 1963, Bill married Arlene Jacobs at Springfield, IL. He continued his education at Concordia Seminary in Springfield. He served his vicarage in West Point, NE, and was ordained into the Ministry in 1967. Bill served Zion Lutheran Church in Wolseley, Sask. and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Indian Head, Sask. from 1967 until 1971. In January of 1972, he moved to Gary, SD, serving First Lutheran Church in Gary and Trinity Lutheran Church in Hendricks, MN. In 1975, he moved to Valley City, ND, where he served St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Valley City and James Valley Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND. In 1986, he moved to Winner, SD, and served Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Witten, SD. In 1999, he moved to South Shore, SD, where he served Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Goodwin, SD. At the time of his death, he was semi-retired, serving the Goodwin congregation where he was a member.

He was active at Great Plains Lutheran High School in Watertown, SD, where he coached football and golf, announced the basketball games, and was on the board of directors. He enjoyed interacting with the students, especially the football players. He described his time coaching as “having the time of my life.” Bill enjoyed puzzles, games, and sports, especially his Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings. He had a life-long fascination with trains, designing and constructing model railroads, and collecting railroad memorabilia. Bill and Arlene had always dreamed of driving the Alaska Highway, and in 2007, they took their dream vacation, spending a month in Alaska.

Bill is survived by his wife, Arlene, of Watertown, SD; three daughters: Karen Allwardt of Fargo, ND, Brenda Allwardt of Watertown, SD, and Debra Allwardt of Macomb, IL; one sister, Marjorie Penhalegon, of Findlay, OH; two brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John; and two brothers-in-law.

Sign Guestbook
Your Name:
Image (optional):
Comment: