Alfred Karl Ventur Obituary

[News Tribune, Tacoma, WA, January 20, 2008]

Alfred Karl Ventur 1910 - 2008

Alfred ("Al") Ventur died peacefully in Tacoma on January 13, 2008. Eldest of three siblings, he was born in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany on March 13, 1910, emigrating to central Wisconsin in 1922.

Al was predeceased by his mother Marie, wife of 56 years Bernice, brother Erich, and sister Hildegard Hatch.

He is survived by his son Pierre and daughter-in-law Bobbie of Beverly, MA; grandson Conrad of London, England; stepson Dean Johnson and his children and grandchildren of Richland, WA and Boise, ID; and several nieces and nephews.

Music, religion and travel were Al's passions. After graduating from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in 1934 playing violin, viola and clarinet, he pursued a decades-long career in public-school music teaching. Al earned graduate credits in music, education and German studies at various institutions, including the Universities of Wisconsin and Washington. He traveled widely, teaching music in the South, Midwest, Western Montana, and Juneau, Alaska, where he met his bride-to-be at a violin recital. After a short sojourn in Wapato, the Venturs relocated to Tacoma in 1950. For several years Al was principal violist with the Tacoma Symphony. In the 1960s he was also instrumental in establishing the Tacoma Youth Symphony Orchestra. Devoutly religious, Al was a lifelong member of the New Apostolic Church, and served as both an ordained minister and choir director of its Tacoma congregation. After retiring from music teaching, he became a missionary, making some half-dozen trips to Micronesia in the 1970s. At home, he puttered and tended his garden. Curious and gregarious by nature, Al read avidly and thrived on engaging with others. He also enjoyed spectator sports and loved the outdoors. Al hiked, fished, camped and swam his whole life. Among his many side activities over the years were running children's summer camps at Snoqualmie Pass for the Washington State Grange, and volunteer work at McNeill Island Penitentiary.

While Al will be sorely missed, all can take comfort in imagining him now taking his rightful front-row seat in God's great eternal symphony. Memorial service Saturday, January 26, 2008, 2 pm, New Apostolic Church, 2309 S. 74th St., Tacoma, WA 98409. Donations to Franciscan Foundation/ Hospice, P.O. Box 1502, Tacoma, WA 98401.