Ahlstrom, Roy C.

Roy C. Ahlstrom, 92, a Belmond, Iowa, native and most recently a resident of the Hiawatha Health Care Center, Hiawatha/Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, July 18, 2009, at St. Luke's Medical Center, Cedar Rapids.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, 2009, at Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond. The Rev. Troy Pflibsen officiated. Visitation was from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be 3:30 p.m. Friday, at Belmond Cemetery. Full military honors will be provided at the funeral home Thursday by the Belmond Military Unit. Memorials may be given to the family in Roy's name or directed to Camp Courageous-Monticello, or the donor's choice.

Roy, the son of G. Herman and Blenda (Ljunberg) Ahlstrom was born Nov. 24, 1916, in Belmond. At age 6, he traveled with his family to Sweden where they lived for a number of years and Roy completed grade school.

Upon returning with his family to the U.S., he continued his education in Goodell, and other Hancock County rural schools before graduating from Goodell High School in 1936.

A Navy enlistee in 1937, Roy was selected for Hospital Corps Training in San Diego, Calif., plus further studies in Clinical Laboratory Technique, and was certified by American Society of Clinical Pathologists. He later pursued further studies in Malariology and Entomology at Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. Honorably Discharged following WWII, he continued studies in the Naval Reserve Program. He attended Rockford School of Business, Rockford, Ill.

Roy was united in marriage to Mildred Nowak, on Nov. 23, 1946, in Detroit, Mich.

Throughout his life, Roy had been very active in a variety of competitive sports including golf. During his time in Sweden, Roy had been active in junior ice hockey, soccer and ski jumping. Upon his family's return to Iowa, he pursued traditional American sports which he continued through his early Naval career.

During his civilian career, Roy had been employed by the Archer Ballroom Company, Des Moines, as resident manager of the Armar Ballroom, Marion, from 1950-62. His years of employment in this role were not only a career opportunity but also a favorite passion in his life. He truly enjoyed his tenure in this position. Roy had also worked for many years as a broker-associate in the real estate profession until his retirement.

Roys had been a member of the Military Officer's Assoc. of America, Fleet Reserve Assoc. Branch 216, Cedar Rapids, and a Past member of the Board Realtors, Cedar Rapids, and the Elks Lodge in Cedar Rapids.

Roy's memory will be carried in the lives of his wife and life partner of nearly 63 years, Mildred Ahlstrom, 6126 Rockwell Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; many nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, G. Herman and Blenda; brothers, Stanley, Carl, Kurt Ahlstrom; and one sister, Pearl. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond. (641) 444-4474.