Alvin A. Borofka

life story

Husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, avid outdoorsman and Polka dancer, and collector of "all the things."

Alvin lived by the saying, "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

About Alvin

Alvin “Al” Borofka, longtime resident of Plymouth, Minnesota, and member of Westgate Church (formerly Wayzata Evangelical Free Church) passed away peacefully into the arms of his Savior on September 20, 2025.

Alvin Arthur Borofka was born on November 2, 1940, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, to Eugene and Lilian Borofka. He grew up on the Borofka family farm, where he learned the value of hard work and appreciation for living simply. His parents played concertina and accordion regularly and passed along a life-long passion for polka music. He enjoyed fishing at the lake at the back of their property and as he got older enjoyed hunting. He was always in his element when he was in the woods. Alvin also had a flare for mischief and found creative ways to entertain himself, such as blowing up tree stumps in the wood. Once he even removed the scent glands from a skunk and brought them to school on the bus. That got everyone’s attention!

In 1958, Alvin graduated from Rice Lake High School and in 1960 entered the United States Army, where he served 3 years on active duty as a Radio Relay and Carrier Operator, stationed in Germany. He was also trained as a cook and in equipment maintenance. He was recognized for his expert rifle skills.

After Alvin returned to the United States in 1963, he met and fell in love with Alice Johnson. Alice shared her faith in Jesus, and Alvin made a decision to accept Jesus as his savior, too. After a brief courtship, Alvin and Alice were married on December 26, 1963. They bought a home in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and in June 1966 welcomed their daughter Anita. Sadly, less than 6 months later, just before their 3rd wedding anniversary, Alice died unexpectedly in a car accident. Alvin being concerned about raising a daughter without a mother set out to find a new wife. He eventually turned to “computer dating” (new, cutting-edge technology in the 1960s) and met Phyllis Holmstrom, a woman who shared his faith and love for the outdoors. Phyllis welcomed the opportunity to raise Anita as her own daughter, and the couple married on September 7, 1968. In 1969 they moved to Plymouth, Minnesota, where they began attending Wayzata Evangelical Free Church (now called Westgate Church) and eventually welcomed two more daughters, Wendy in 1971 and Pam in 1975.

Alvin often took his family back to the Borofka farm to visit his parents, where they played a lot of cribbage and Pinochle and enjoyed his mom’s wonderful cooking. The family also enjoyed many road trips across the country, as well as canoeing and camping adventures. As often as possible, they would travel to Rockford, Illinois, to visit Al's Army buddy and brother, Ron Bocker, and his family on their farm.

Alvin’s primary career was as a milkman. In his 20s, he started a home milk delivery business with some friends. The running family joke was that Al’s girls were all “the milkman’s daughters.” He continued in that business until he retired at the age of 42. In retirement, Alvin spent a lot of time tinkering in his garage and back yard. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed blessing others with his bounty. He enjoyed visiting with his neighbors and fishing. Alvin also took on odd jobs, including temporary work for Stubbs Building & House Movers. He enjoyed volunteering at Faith Search and at his church as an usher and parking lot attendant. He additionally volunteered with Kids Around the World, helping to disassemble playground equipment for it to be repurposed in underprivileged nations.

As empty nesters, Phyllis and Alvin enjoyed traveling as much as they could, visiting Branson, Des Moines Oktoberfest annually for polka dancing, a fishing trip to Canada, and various threshing shows throughout the years. In 2008 to celebrate their 40th anniversary, Alvin and Phyllis enjoyed the trip of a lifetime on an Alaskan cruise with Anita and Wendy's families and their lifelong friends, the Bockers. Unfortunately it was during this trip the family started noticing some changes in Phyllis and shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Phyllis eventually passed away in July 2022.

That same summer, Alvin sold his home in Plymouth, as it was too much for him to keep up with. He lived with Wendy’s family for about a year before finally moving into a senior assisted living facility in Maple Grove. Alvin found a great community of friends there and enjoyed all of the social activities and playing games. He also enjoyed writing poetry in his spare time (something he learned from his uncle Frank), often writing about people he loved and life experiences. Due to declining health and mobility, he eventually moved to the Minnesota Veterans Home in May 2024, where he enjoyed the company of new friends on his ward, especially his neighbor Jim. Alvin attended the men’s weekly Bible study, and enjoyed playing bingo, blackjack, and attending social events. A highlight was when Ann-Margret came to visit the veterans and Al got to shake her hand.

In September 2025, Alvin was placed on hospice and a short time later passed away on September 20, 2025. The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home and the team from Grace Hospice who lovingly and compassionately cared for Alvin until the end.

Alvin was preceded in death by parents Eugene and Lillian Borofka (Rice Lake, Wisconsin); brother James Borofka (Cottage Grove, Minnesota), sister-in-law Pamela Holmstrom (St. Francis, Minnesota), first wife Alice Borofka (Coon Rapids, Minnesota), second wife Phyllis Borofka, and youngest daughter Pamela Borofka (both of Plymouth, Minnesota). He is survived by daughter and son-in-law Anita and Dean Forrest (Elk River, Minnesota), daughter and son-in-law Wendy and Brian Menk (Paynesville, Minnesota); grandchildren Andrew (wife Katie) Forrest, Nathaniel Forrest, Alanna Menk, and Benjamin Menk, and great-grandson Hunter LeClair-Forrest; sister-in-law Janice Borofka, sister and brother-in-law Susan and David Derro (Rice Lake, Wisconsin), brother Bernard Borofka (Rice Lake, Wisconsin), brother- and sister-in-law Harold and Carol Holmstrom (Fridley, Minnesota), brother-in-law Steve Holmstrom (St. Francis, Minnesota); and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

memorial service

Celebration of Life for Alvin Borofka

October 24, 2025

Westgate Church 705 County Rd 101, Plymouth, MN 55447, USA

Visitation: 10 a.m.

Service: 11 a.m.

Lunch following the service

Service will be livestreamed starting 15 minutes before the service:

https://westgatechurchmn.subspla.sh/j3dj5fy

The photo slideshow of Alvin is available on You Tube:

https://youtu.be/f1f3xCys5x8

A private double interment for both Alvin and Phyllis Borofka is planned at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services