Alphonse was born in Paris, France on May 16, 1933 to Clemons and Marguerite Prevel. His parents died during WWII and he went to the Basque country where he later served 2 years in the French Army. In October 1956, Alphonse came to the United States with the help of a dear friend, Jean Galzagorry which took him to Townsend, Montana to work for Frank and Rose Flynn who held a special place in his heart. He helped them on their ranch and herded sheep. He later came to Miles City and began working at the Log Cabin Bar which was the beginning of a long career in bartending. On December 18, 1965 he married Karen Lindow. Together they had one daughter, Sherri. In 1968 he went to work for the Eagles Club and for 44 years, became the friendly face behind the bar. Also in 1968 he went to work for Fort Keogh Experiment Station. He retired from Fort Keogh in 1993 and from the Eagles in December of 2011.
Alphonse looked forward to his yearly elk hunting trips back to Townsend with his brother Andre and good friend George. Alphonse could start up a conversation with just about anyone and left a lasting impression, he loved people. He liked his morning walk to the post office, banks, and chatting with everyone along the way. He also treasured the time with his family especially his Grandsons.
Alphonse is survived by his daughter Sherri (Rob) Schneidt and 2 grandsons; Derek and Braden whom he adored so much; sisters-in-law; Helen Prevel of Townsend and Diane (Arlen) Matzen of Miles City; a nephew; Andre Jr. (Lana) Prevel and nieces; Johanna Matzen of Miles City, Jacqueline (Scott) Bodle, Jeanette Prevel, Monique (Denis) Smirnov, all of the Townsend area, Genevieve (Steve Massey) Prevel of La Porte, Indiana and numerous great nieces and nephews. Alphonse is preceded in death by his parents, 2 infant brothers and brothers Andre Sr. and Marcel, and his wife Karen.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 27, 2012 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Calvary Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com. Arrangements are being handled by Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Holy Rosary Hospice, Wake Up and Lace Up or Sacred Heart Church.
Service Schedule
Family Receive Friends
16:00 to 18:00
Friday January 27, 2012
Stevenson Funeral Home-Miles City
1717 Main Street
Miles City, MT 59301
Funeral Mass
11:00
Saturday January 28, 2012
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
520 North Montana
Miles City, MT 59301
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David & Sharla Jerrel says
Rob, Sherri, and family, our thoughts and prayers are with you. We will dearly miss our PP! He had a very special place in our hearts!
Niki Munroe says
Sherry, Rob and family:
I am so sorry about AP. He was such a character and will be greatly missed! We all had a good time joking around with him in the bank…never a dull moment with AP around! Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
John Jackson says
Miles City is a little less without A.P. I’ll miss the quick wit and all the fun.
Rest In Peace, old friend.
Your friend, the jack rabbit.
Dannette Cremer says
Sherri, Rob & family. Prayers to you and your family. AP always had a smile on his face and loved to joke around. He will be missed by many.
Janet Klein says
Sherry and family…my heart is breaking for you during this time of sorrow in your life. AP was a special guy that always had a smile and a joke to tell. May your memories of your dad sustain you through this difficult adjustment of time…not having him in your presence, however, knowing that he is there in spirit and will continue to be will help the hollowness in your heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with you
Brook Coleman says
What a wonderful and fun loving man AP was. My condolances out to the family. I have known him since I was a child and she has never changed. Thoughts and prayers. You will be missed AP!
KayK, Dennis, Hunter & Shyanne says
Sherri, Rob and family,
WE LOVE YOU and are praying for your peace and comfort. We will see you on Thursday evening-I just don’t have the words to say anything right now. Your hurting heart makes me hurt too. In the 33+ years we’ve been friends, I loved your Dad too-I keep thinking of all the funny stuff he said all the time. At least I have those memories-I know you have many more, especially those times you’ve been to France together. LOVE YOU!
Tim and Michelle Rossow says
Sherry and family I am so sorry for your loss AP was such a ray of light. He will be missed very much and know you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jennifer Lesh says
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please call me if you need anything!! Luv Jennifer
Lindy Annalora says
Sherri, Rob, and family, I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
LaRae says
My prayers go out to Sherri, Rob and family. Love you guys and so sorry for your loss. AP will be missed even though he teased me all the time…lol I am pretty sure he is flirting with girls in heaven…:)LaRenee
Sarena Vollmer says
I am so deeply sorry for your loss of such a great guy. I’ll miss his warm smile and even warmer heart. I’ll even miss his silly sence of humor. My prayers and warm thoughts are with all of you.
Amber says
AP will truly be missed. He always kenw how to bring a smile to your face.
Mary Robinson says
Sherry, Rob & family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this diificult time. The Eagles Club is now open with Dad(Roman), Esther and now AP. I am sure they are having one together.
Gene & Vickie says
We have lost an extraordinary man. Alphonse never met a stranger, always had a twinkle or two in his eyes and with his charismatic and magnetic personality, he truly was one of a kind.
His daughter Sherri, Rob (son) and grandsons, Derek and Braden were his world. While you wouldn’t see him playing rough games with the boys, you would see him showing their photos and bragging about them to everyone. I think he was in such a grownup world that the boys were something he stood back and marveled at! He was always there cheering Derek at his games, always supportive.
Kids, losing someone you love is one of the hardest things in life. It is incredibly devastating and afterwards can be filled with immense stress. Know that we are here for you, always & forever. We love each one of you, with all our heart.
Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life.
Shannon Dowse says
Sherri, Rob and all of AP’s family, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for allowing me into your home to care for AP – He will always have a special place in my heart. Know that I am thinking of you guys during this trying time. Hold on to the memories!!!
Chad Irion says
Sherry and Robert you and your families are in my thoughts in prayers. I sure will miss running into him.
Barry Kottwitz says
Sherri/Rob
AP was real special, I looked forward to seeing him every year when I came back to MC. I’ll miss that converstion and his friendly smile.
My thoughts are with you’re family.
Barry and Darla
Carol Bean says
I am so sorry for your loss, Sherry. Your dad was a one-of-a-kind. His smile was so contagious. It didn’t matter how bad a you were having. If AP stepped into your day, your day was always brighter. Hugs.
Cathy & Frank van der Linden says
Sherri & Rob,
It has been so sad to lose both brothers in such a short while. You guys have been great. We will so miss Alphonse! I’m glad we shared some quality time with him again these last few years. I’m sorry for your loss, and ours too. Big hugs.
Joe and Jackie Schneidt says
Sherri,your dad always made me smile.You and your family are in our thoughts and prayer.
Rhonda Raschkow says
Sherri and Rob,
So sorry to hear of the loss of AP, your father. I know that my Grandpa Homer, dearly adored AP. There were many moments of laughter shared between these two men. I know that as you celebrate his life tomorrow and on Saturday, you will find comfort in God’s promise of everlasting life. May you rejoice in the love that surrounds you, may memories fill your heart- as tears run down your face in remembrance of all he was as a father, a friend, a grandpa to those he dearly loved and all that dearly loved him!!
KATHY DAMM LAWRENCE says
IT IS A SAD TIME FOR THOES OF US WHO WAS BLESSED TO OF KNOWN AP ! HE ALWAYS WAS SUCH FUN TO VISIT WITH AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SUPPER AT THE HOLE ONE NIGHT AND WE LAUGHED THINKING…WE WERE GIVING THE TOWN FOLK SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT…MILES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME COMEING HOME..GOING TO THE EAGLES AND NOT HAVEING AP TO VISIT WITH . MAY YOU KNOW YOUR IN MY PRAYERS !
Jarett Gundlach says
Sherri, Rob and Family,
Jennifer and I are sorry for your loss. We will miss the good natured banter we always had with AP. He was quite the the character. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jarett
Joan Damm Smith says
Dear AP’s Family, I am so sad to hear of Ap’s passing, he was a wonderful and sweet man to all the people of Miles City. I know my visits home will not be the same without him at the Eagles..I have no reason to go there now:(…so many family memories were there and he was a great part of my life growing up. God Bless, Joan Smith
Helene Galzagorry says
My dear Sherri. I’m so sorry. Alphonse meant so much to me. I considered him my “uncle” since it was my biological mother’s family that raised him after he became an orphan. He always made me laugh. He gave me a hard time about changing my diapers when I was little, and later, he joked about wanting to marry me. Such a character that he was. I’m glad he came to join us in Winston at the ranch on an almost annual basis. I will miss him up there when I go. Know that my heart goes out to you. My prayers are with you during this hard time. I will never forget the huge impact he and his brother, Andre, had on my life. Some souls come into your life for a long, long time and I’m guessing that they are still in my life. Sending Love, Helene
Debbie Koehler Jurad says
Lots of wonderful memories of Alphonse. I remember him for the Crossroads. His wife Karen worked there and he would come out and visit and I loved listening to him.
Monique Smirnov says
Sherri & Rob,
There are no words that can express the sympathy and sadness that is in my heart. Losing dad and Uncle Tee-tee in the span of 8 months is just devastating and hard, for lack of better words.
Uncle Tee-tee was a great man and will be remembered and missed for the rest of our days.
At least he is reunited with our loved ones in heaven.
Love,
monique
Duane and Jane Bundy says
AP will be truly missed . Our thoughts and prayers are wiith you .
Steve Larson says
I worked with AP out at the Ft in the late 70’s early 80’s..and he was a hoot…kept me on the straight and narrow….as i got older had a toddy or two with him…He will be dearly missed.My thoughts and prayers to the family . Steve Larson