Alvin Louis Bellinghausen

Alvin Louis Bellinghausen, 96, of Amarillo, passed peacefully on June 9, 2024.

The family will receive guests on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia. A rosary will begin at 6:00 p.m. Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, 1200 S. Washington, with Reverend Anthony Neusch presiding. Entombment will follow in Llano Cemetery’s Garden Mausoleum. 

Alvin was born on December 14, 1927, at the family farm in Knox County, Texas, to Hubert and Rosina (Duesterhaus) Bellinghausen. He graduated from Rhineland High School in 1941. He often spoke of his tremendous pride in the fact that his family helped build St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Rhineland, where he attended church. Following graduation, Alvin was drafted and proudly served his country in post-World War II Germany as a member of the United States Army. 

On April 18, 1951, Alvin and Dolores exchanged vows in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in White Deer, Texas, and together they set off building their family. He was a faithful and loyal family man who was dedicated to his wife and their eight children. Together, the family were members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Amarillo, and remained so when it was named the new Cathedral. He spent his whole life working. Alvin began farming at a young age, worked in construction for some time, and ended his working life as a member of the United States Postal Service for more than three decades while maintaining a small landscaping business that he operated in his spare time. 

Following retirement, he and Dolores purchased an old farm house from Alvin’s uncle in Knox County where they would escape the hustle of day to day life for a little quiet time. 

Alvin is preceded in death by his beloved wife Dolores, sons Eddie and Gary Bellinghausen, grandson Branden Bellinghausen, his parents, brothers Wilfred, Herbert, William, Urban (U.J.) and Father David Bellinghausen, sisters Catherine, Ilene and Phyllis; great-nephew Chris Bellinghausen, and niece Connie Payne just this past April. Those left to cherish his memories are daughters Janet Thiemermann and Elise Sladek, sons Alan Bellinghausen and wife Jeannine, Brian Bellinghausen and wife Liz, Steven Bellinghausen, Bruce Bellinghausen and wife Tricia; brother Charles “Charlie” Bellinghausen, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews; extended family and dear friends.