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Alan Lee Cornelsen © Fairview Funeral Home 07-2014 Submitted by: Ann Weber
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Graveside Services for Alen Lee Cornelsen, 69, of Chico, California, will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2014 at the South Mennonite Brethren Cemetery, south of Fairview. He peacefully passed away, July 7, 2014. Local arrangements by Fairview Funeral Home, Inc.
Alan Lee Cornelsen, often known to friends and family as Al, was born November 15th, 1944, in Oakland, California, the second son of the two children of Arlyss Wilbur Cornelsen and Patricia Edra Cornelsen, who also rest from their earthly labors in South Mennonite Brethren Cemetery.
As did thousands of Oklahomans, Al’s parents had moved to California during the World War II years. When the war ended they returned to Oklahoma, settling in the town of Perry during the mid-1940’s. Thus began a long pattern of moving from town to town throughout the western and midwestern states as Arlyss, Al’s father, sought to improve his employment. Throughout his childhood, Al attended school in Clay Center, Kansas; Umatilla, Oregon; and Powell, Wyoming, graduating from Camelback High School in Phoenix, Arizona in 1963.
Al attended the University of Arizona for about one year, majoring in music. Following piano lessons as a young child, he had begun playing the trombone during grade school years. Thereafter both the trombone and music became lifelong interests and pursuits, to the point that Al preferred to think of himself as a musician.
However, as it does with many, music as a profession eluded Al. Instead, he worked in a number of different fields, including various sales positions. His most notable career achievement was assisting his parents when, in 1987, they purchased land and built a new automobile lube shop in Chico, California. With Al as manager the business became successful and operates profitably to this day.
In or about 1990 Al married. The couple subsequently moved to the Portland, Oregon area, where Al continued working for auto lube shops before turning to several other money earning activities. During these Portland years, Al and his wife were divorced after over a decade and a half of marriage. This event caused his life to take a downturn from which it was not to recover.
After several years of substance abuse Al ultimately ended up back in Chico, California, as a tenant at a Christian rehabilitation center called the Well Ministry of Rescue. Coincidentally, the Well now leased the auto lube station Al had helped establish nearly 25 years earlier. The Well used the business not only to fund its charitable mission but also as vocational training for its tenants.
Living on the premises of the Well, Al’s life became blessedly free from alcohol abuse but health problems which had plagued him for years intensified. After several surgeries within a two-year time span, Al was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer during June of 2014 and succumbed to the disease on July 7th.
Viewing Al’s life in its entirety, on one hand he dealt with addiction problems along with difficult professional, family, and marital frustrations. On the other hand, he was consoled by music, his knowledge of his role as a founding partner of a successful business, and a love of dogs. Whenever possible at least one pet dog was present on the domestic scene. Possibly his greatest comfort was his ardent belief in the Holy Bible and the principles of Christianity. May Alan Lee Cornelsen rest in the peace of God near his parents, grandparents and great-grandmother in this beautiful prairie cemetery near Fairview, Oklahoma.
Alan is survived by a brother, Douglas Cornelsen, of Dearborn, Michigan; along with nieces Leora Grasl of Brighton, Michigan; Mira Kenney of Troy, Michigan and Nina Cornelsen of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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