Alfred Viggo Andersen (1928-2018)

Alfred Viggo Andersen, 90, passed away June 17, 2018, in Ellsworth, Kan. He was born Jan. 12, 1928, in Denver, Colo. to Alfred V. and Helen (Johansen) Andersen.

Alfred married Ila Mae Dees, originally from Ellsworth, June 14, 1953, in Denver, Colo.

After high school, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corp as a special weapons machinist and armorer. When his tour was complete, he returned to Denver and attended the University of Denver, studying physics.

He turned his innate mechanical aptitude and passion for cars into a lifelong career in the automotive industry.
In 1953, Al started Foreign Car Service, Ltd., an independent repair facility for European cars. Through the years, while keeping up with the ever-changing automotive technology, it remains true to its original concept of a family owned and operated business.

It continues to thrive in Golden, Colo., under the direction of sons Kurt and Karl Andersen, and three full-time employees.

In 1991, Andersen’s Foreign Car Service Ltd. became a Bosch Service Center, a designation given only to a small group of independent facilities that are inspected for and must maintain rigorous quality standards for automotive diagnosis and repair and customer service.

Al and Ila raised their four children in the mountains west of Denver in Morrison, Colo., on five acres of land with an old rock house they named Stone Hollow. They were active members of Evergreen Lutheran Church.

When the children grew older, Al began pursuing his other dream: flying. He earned his private pilot’s license, and he and Ila traveled extensively in their Cessna 182, including long trips through Alaska.

Al was a member of the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and United Flying Octogenarians.

In 2011, Al and Ila retired to Ellsworth. They are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wilson, Kansas.  

Alfred is survived by his wife, Ila Andersen of Ellsworth; son, Kurt Andersen (Jan) of Arvada, Colo.; son, Karl Andersen (Kristin) of Morrison, Colo.; daughter, Kara Stewart of Grover Beach, Calif.; daughter-in-law, Sharon Andersen of Golden, Colo.; grandchildren, Megan, Kayla, Jordan, Brianne, and Ellery; and great-grandchild, Cameron.

He was preceded in death by his son, Kris Andersen, and grandson, Justin Andersen.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 14, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wilson, Kan.

Interment and memorial service will be held at Evergreen Lutheran Church, Evergreen, Colo., at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wilson, or Good Samaritan Society of Ellsworth, in care of Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.

Condolences may be left at parsonsfh.com

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