Obituary of Alf Berle

Retired Fire Captain Alf Berle age 86, passed away June 23, 2015 from Alzheimer's. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 2, 2015 at Dove of Peace Lutheran Church, 665 W. Roller Coaster Road, Tucson. He is preceded in death by his wife, Doris Berle. Alf was born in Richmond, New York December 17, 1928 to Harold Svenson and Edith Berle Svenson. At the age of 16 he and a buddy jumped a train heading towards San Diego where they had hoped to join the Navy. Alf had a deep love for the ocean, which he didn't find out until much later that the Navy and Merchant Marines were in his blood. Unfortunately Alf and his buddy were removed from the train in Tucson. There he met Doris McNaught and in a couple of years they eloped. In 1957 he joined the Tucson City Fire Department family, which he cherished throughout his life. There he was nicknamed Alfy. Ascending through the ranks to captain, Alf had to retire in 1984 due to arthritis. He is preceded in death by his wife, Doris and survived by his children, Lynnell Christensen (Bill), Scott Berle (Susie), Suzanne Halstead (Jerry) all of Tucson; six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, a brother in California and sister in Maine. Any donations please make to the Last Alarm Foundation Tucson Fire Department, in memory of Alf Berle. Arrangements entrusted to ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel. -