Alvin Oujiri

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 5, 1918
Departed on March 31, 2009. Resided in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Memorial

Alvin Oujiri, 90, a resident of Hallmar Residential Care Center died there Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. Monday at St. Matthew Catholic Church by the Rev. Mark Osterhaus. Entombment: Cedar Memorial Park Mausoleum. Visitation will be Sunday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 2-6 p.m. and after 9:00 a.m. at the church on Monday.

Alvin was born on November 5, 1918, in a little house at 156 14th Avenue on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids. Al attended St. Ludmilla’s and St. Wenceslaus’s schools, and went on to serve in World War II. Al and his family were long-time members of St. Matthew's parish, where he was in the men’s choir and participated in parish events. Al worked with Arthur Collins before the war began, and afterwards he worked for Collins Radio and Rockwell Corporation for more than 30 years. Al then worked in the men’s department at Armstrong’s Department Store until retiring. Al decided to try his hand at painting, and over the following years he painted a wide variety of subjects. Beautiful landscapes, detailed floral, and heartfelt Christmas scenes were inspired by his life in Iowa and his travels around the world. Al served for 12 years in the Hanford Post 5 American Legion, and since 1996 he participated in over 900 memorial events such as parades, funerals, and flag ceremonies. He was a constant presence at Legion services for schools, nursing homes, ball parks and Kingston Stadium. He was honored as a Freedom Fest Hero and served as Field Marshall for Cedar Rapid’s Freedom Festival Parade in 2007. As well as painting, Al enjoyed playing tennis and golf. As a young man he was the runner-up champion for the 1941 city-wide tennis tournament, and as a senior citizen he made a hole-in-one at the 17th hole at Twin Pines Golf Course in 1994. Later Alvin resided in Hallmar at Mercy Medical Center, and continued to enjoy art, and his many friends and relatives. Alvin married Evelyn Werner on October 8, 1941 in Cedar Rapids. She died January 15, 1975. He then married Elaine Louise Schulte on August 16, 1980 in Fairfax.

He is survived by his wife Elaine Oujiri, his children, Susan Oujiri Monk of Cedar Rapids, JoAnn Oujiri-Cameron of Maryland, Karen Oujiri Roth (Lawrence) of San Antonio, Texas, and Lauren “Laurie” Oujiri (Gary) of Pennsylvania, his grandchildren, Jocelyn Gill, Stacy Monk Chalupsky (Jason), Stephen Roth, Jimmy Gill, Russell Monk and great grandchild, Blake Chalupsky.

Alvin was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anastasia, his brother, John Oujiri and first wife Evelyn, and a son-in-law Ron Cameron.

A memorial fund has been established for the American Legion in lieu of flowers.

Visitation

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Cemetery