Alfred L. and Olivia (Steinbach) Henkel, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Alfred L. and Olivia (Steinbach) Henkel
HISTORY OF ALFRED L. AND OLIVIA HENKEL
Alfred L. Henkel attended Valparaiso University from September, 1933 to January 1937. Because he could find no work in the social service field, he returned to V. U. in June, 1937 to complete his requirements for an Indiana State Teachers license. He did his student teaching at Valparaiso High School in U. S. History under the supervision of Ralph Schenck. Due to the scarcity of teaching positions he took a position as night clerk at the Hotel Lembke. He left Valparaiso in March of 1939 for Fort Wayne where he again worked in hotels until April 14, 1942 when he received his "Greetings" from President Roosevelt.
He was assigned to the 6th Armored Division during World War II and found that a fellow university graduate, Herbert Steinbach, was also assigned to the same company. It was through him that Al met Herb's sister Olivia and married her January 19, 1946, following his discharge from the army on October 14, 1945.
In September, 1946 he accepted a position as teacher at Valparaiso High School. In 1952 he organized the guidance services and became Director of Guidance in 1955 and served in that capacity until 1972. He continued as teacher-counselor until retirement in 1975.
He looks back to his time spent working with the young people of Valparaiso as a most rewarding experience.
Olivia worked at Valparaiso University from 1940-41 and again 1946 to 1974 on a part-time basis in the Public Relations, Business and Moellering Library offices at various times.
They are the parents of two children: Olivia and Al Jr. Both attended Immanuel Lutheran School, graduating from Valpo High in 1965 and 1966 respectively.
Olivia graduated from V. U. in 1971, taught her first year at Toltec, Arizona, and has since been teaching in the Valparaiso School System.
Al Jr. worked as X-ray technologist at Porter Memorial Hospital from 1967 to 1972, and while there met Karen Krohn, who was a nurses aide at the hospital. They were married May 27, 1972. They are living in Valparaiso since 1974, after Karen had finished her nurse's training at Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital. At present Al is attending Valparaiso Technical Institute, and Karen is a nurse at P.M.H.
Source: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County. 1976. A Biographical History of Porter County, Indiana. Valparaiso, Indiana: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County, Inc. 180 p.
Page(s) in Source: 119
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook