Alan Levine Erickson

Alan Levine Erickson, loving husband of Stephanie, father of Kata and Kolby, brother, son, nephew and friend, passed away at home on December 11th surrounded by his loving family.  Alan was born on April 6, 1967 to Claire and Donald Erickson and joined five older siblings on the family farm. Being ten years younger than the next youngest child, he often declared he had two fathers and five mothers. He was always referred to as “the baby” and his brother and sisters took great joy in helping to care for him.    Alan graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1985, attended Marshalltown Community College, then honorably served his country in the United States Air Force from 1986 to 1990. On December 31, 1989, he married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie Bussell in Las Vegas. Their wedding was later solemnized at Elim Lutheran and St. Mary in Marshalltown. They spent their early years of marriage in Riverside, California, Chicago, Illinois and Minneapolis, Minnesota before they returned to Marshalltown in 1996 and purchased Stephanie’s grandmother’s acreage on West Main Street. They owned and operated Allied Printing in the early 2000s. Alan was also employed at MinuteMan Printing and Raymon Donco.  He also held additional part-time jobs including driving delivery for Zeno’s Pizza.  Al and Stephanie loved to vacation on the beaches in Florida. With his best friend Jeff Graw, they developed and maintained a two-acre garden over the past few years. Al was also a beekeeper. He was known as an exceptionally hard worker with a dry sense of humor. He was dedicated to his wife, children, immediate and extended family. “Everyone has a favorite Alan family story that they love to share. “ Alan is survived by his wife of 29 years, Stephanie Erickson; daughters Kata of Newton and Kolby of Des Moines; grand-daughter Luna Claire; brother Norman (Melanie) Erickson; sisters Marilyn Melick, Marleen (Terry) Burns, Denise (Jim) Merritt, Marcia (Roger) Brooks; and special aunt Hisako Smith.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Claire and Donald Erickson; grandmother Elisa (Alice) Smith; niece Shauna Erickson; mother-in-law Marilynn (Tiny) Schmidt; grandmother-in-law Dorothea Moehrl; and many beloved aunts and uncles.   “Al, you have been my best friend, my rock in times of trouble, my safe place in this scary world, my peacekeeper in times of turmoil. Your wonderful humor has carried us through the good and the bad parts of life. You have taken care of me from high school to the present day.  You were the best husband, father and partner one could ever find. You have always been enough.”-Stephanie Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, December 14 at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Funeral services and mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 15 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Memorials may be directed to the family.  For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234.  Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Alan and his family.