The Rev. Al Thelander

The Rev. Al Thelander, who served parish ministries in California after an Air Force career, died on October 20, 2014, at the age of 89.

Albert Hill Thelander was born on August 8, 1925 to Margaret and Albert Levi Thelander. He earned a B.S. from Harvard University in 1949, and went on to serve the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1970. He was graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry in 1973.

Mr. Thelander was ordained to ministry in 1977 by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Saddleback Valley of Laguna Hills, CA, (now Tapestry, A Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Mission Viejo, CA) where he served as minister from 1977 to 1979. He then answered a call to the Humboldt UU Fellowship of Bayside, CA in 1979, where he continued until his retirement in 1993, when he was voted Minister Emeritus.

The Rev. Mr. Thelander served his colleagues and the UU movement in a variety of ways. He was a founding member and secretary of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Cooperative, Pacific Central District of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) from 1975 to 1977; Northern California area coordinator to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee from 1975 to 1976; chair of the denominational affairs and communications committee of the Pacific Southwest District of the UUA from 1978 to 1979; Board of Directors of the Pacific Central District from 1983 to 1987; and President of the Pacific Central District from 1985 to 1987.

Al enjoyed chess, carpentry, reading, and spending time with family, among whom he was affectionately known as “GrandAl.” His granddaughter, Emmy, remembers, “GrandAl approached everything in life, including the whimsical and the grave, with the assumption that it was—or could be—meaningful. He was and is a model for intentional living.”

Al Thelander is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary; children, Carl Thelander, Margo Thelander, and Kate Alvarez; grandchildren, Emmy, Max, Alicia, Alex, Cara and Shane; and great-grandchildren, Davin, Anderson, and Collin.

A celebration of life was planned at a later date. Notes of condolences may be sent to Mary Thelander, 12833 Lake Wildwood Drive, Penn Valley, CA 95946.