Albert Villarreal, 1933-2018

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Funeral services for Albert Villarreal will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Kurt Farrell will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, and again one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in St. Theodore Catholic Cemetery.

Albert Villarreal

Albert George Villarreal, 85, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, at his apartment in St. John’s Knutson Place in Albert Lea. Albert was born on April 23, 1933, to parents William and Maria (Aguilar) Villarreal in Blue Earth. He grew up as a sharecropper with his family in the southern Minnesota and northern Iowa areas. While working in the fields, he met his future wife, Isabel Perez. The two were married on March 31, 1951, at St. Theodore Catholic Church. Five children were born to this union.

He had various jobs in the area and started with the Albert Lea Police Department in 1960 until 1985. In his time on the ALPD, he was a canine officer for 14 years and trained K-9s for other departments, as well.

Every year, the Villarreal family looked forward to their family fishing trip to northern Minnesota. Albert was very talented and loved to play guitar and sing. He enjoyed gardening in his later years and did everything he could with Isabel by his side.

In his free time, Albert enjoyed going dancing with Isabel. They were very good. He was a proud Elks Club member for many years and became an exalted ruler. With the Elks, Albert was in charge of Project Charlie for drug prevention through education.

Survivors include Albert’s wife, Isabel Villarreal; children Linda (Reuben) Escherich of Clear Lake, Iowa, Roseline “Lolly” (Gordy) Hacker of Albert Lea, Albert “Bill” (Janye) of Albert Lea and Cindy (Gary) Henningson of Owatonna; grandchildren Bobby (Sybil) Escherich, Chad (Keri) Hacker, Jennifer Hampton, Troy Hacker, Derek Hacker, Trisha (John) Wondra, Kristin Villarreal, Tara Yotter and Melissa Yotter; many great-grandchildren; siblings Cruz (Gordon) Anderson and Connie Navarette; aunt, Lupe Rubio of Mason City; as well as several nieces, nephews, close cousins and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Maria Villarreal; daughter, Debbie Villarreal; grandson, Ryan Escherich; and siblings, Roger Villarreal and Sarah Wirtjes.