Alvin B. Koeneman

Alvin Berthold Koeneman (July 1, 1933 – February 21, 2018) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy.[1] He was Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from June 1988 to August 1991.[2]

Alvin B. Koeneman
Born(1933-07-01)July 1, 1933
Omro, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedFebruary 20, 2018(2018-02-20) (aged 84)
Tucson, Arizona
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
RankRear admiral
Commands heldChief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Superior Service Medal

Early life and education

Koeneman was born in Omro, Wisconsin in 1933. He earned a B.A. from Wartburg College in 1955 and a B.Div. from the Wartburg Theological Seminary in 1959. Koeneman married Emelie Ruth Jackson on June 3, 1956. He was ordained an Evangelical Lutheran priest on June 6, 1959 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Koeneman served as a pastor in Santee, California from 1959 to 1962 and then as an assistant pastor in Santa Ana, California from 1962 to 1967.[3]

Military career

Koeneman was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve on September 2, 1962. He reported for training at the chaplain school in Newport, Rhode Island in April 1967. Koeneman was assigned to Yokosuka, Japan from July 1967 to December 1968,[3] but also ministered in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.[1] He later served aboard USS Carl Vinson from October 1980 to April 1983. Koeneman was promoted to captain on July 1, 1981[3] and then promoted to flag rank in 1985.[1] He received an honorary D.Div. degree from the Wartburg Theological Seminary in May 1987.[4] Koeneman was also conferred an honorary LL.D. degree by Wartburg College in 1988.[5] He received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal,[1] Legion of Merit[4] and Defense Superior Service Medal.[1]

Later life

After retiring from the Navy, Koeneman returned to Wartburg College as an administrator. After his wife Emelie died in 2001, he married Carol Wessels Bye on August 1, 2003. Koeneman later served as an interim pastor in Cedar Falls, Iowa before moving to Arizona. He died on February 20, 2018 in Tucson.[1] Koeneman and his first wife Emelie Ruth (Jackson) Koeneman (July 27, 1935 – November 9, 2001)[6] are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[7]

References
  1. "Alvin B. Koeneman". Kaiser Corson Funeral Homes, Inc. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  2. United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel; Drury, C.M. (1974). A history of the Chaplain Corps, United States Navy, 1778-. U.S. Govt. Print Off.
  3. Martin, H. Lawrence (1984). "Koeneman, Alvin Berthold". History of the Chaplain Corps, United States Navy. VIII. U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps. p. 91. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  4. "Annual Memorial Service, Sunday, August 19, 1990". Summary of Proceedings of the 91st National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Baltimore, MD, August 17-24, 1990. Government Printing Office. 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  5. "Honorary Degrees". Academic Affairs Office. Wartburg College. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  6. "Koeneman, Emelie Ruth". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  7. "Koeneman, Alvin Berthold". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2020-12-28.

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