Howard Akenson

Howard “howie” Akenson was born in South Minneapolis on December 13, 1922 where he attended Longfellow grade school and graduated from South High School.  He worked at a shoe store for twenty five cents an hour and saved enough from his earnings to buy a car when he first got his driver’s license.  He had a life-long love of cars and he knew how to save a buck or two to be able to buy them!

Howard was drafted into the army in March of 1943, an event that took him into the forests of the Ardennes to Bastogne with the AAA 777th Anti- Aircraft Battalion as a messenger whose duty was to carry information, mostly in the dark of night, to the gunners that were set up some miles apart.  He was awarded the Bronze Star and had a life-long love for what he always called his “buddies” of the Super Sixth Armored Division.

After the war, Howard returned to Minneapolis and went to work for Wold Transfer as a truck driver.  Here he met the office secretary, Alice Skaalrud.  They married in September of 1948 and had a beautiful marriage for almost 70 years.  Alice died in February of 2018, just five months before Howard went to be with her on July 18th.

Howard went to college on the G.I.  bill graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1949 with a degree in Business and Administration.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1951 and became a teacher of Business and Economics at Columbia Heights High School where he ran the job training program.  He earned his Master’s Degree in 1961.  He worked for the Columbia Heights School District until his retirement in 1985.

Alice and Howie loved to be at the lake and discovered Alexandria in the mid -fifties.   After renting cabins and spending several summers in a small trailer at Carlos State Park, they bought a cabin on Lake Darling in 1961 where family and many friends spent wonderful summers at the lake.  His children and grandchildren cannot thank “papa” enough for choosing such a terrific place to keep the summer traditions alive.

Papa and Marmer were loved by everyone who ever met them. They were an exceptional couple and it is great that they are together again.

Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Alice (“marmer);   parents, Nathaniel and Elsie; his brother Roger and sisters Nathalie Person and Helen Jean Grey.

Howard is survived by his children; Tom (Linda) Akenson, Patti (Steve) Tessmer;  grandchildren,  Nicole Tessmer,  Zach (Amanda) Tessmer, Andy (Meg) Akenson, Ellie Akenson and Joe Gerard;  five great grandchildren; and his beloved sister Lois Clark of Captiva Island, Florida and his many nieces and nephews who will always remember the water skiing and cookouts at the lake.   Also surviving him are his great friends Merrill “bergie” Burgstahler and Ed “torgie” Torguson.    Bergie marched through the war with him and Torgie taught with him.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11AM, Saturday, August 11th, 2018, at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum.

A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Private inurnment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery .

Memorials preferred to Grace Church  or Legacy of the Lakes Museum of Alexandria, Minnesota.