Cliff Buchan
News Editor

The Forest Lake area has lost two long-time residents who spent most of their lives here, served their country during World War II and came home to be productive citizens.

John B. Israelson, 83, a Forest Lake man known for his long service to the American Legion, died at his home on Monday, Sept. 26.

Frank Aljets, 92, a Columbus Township man who helped found a Forest Lake church, died at Birchwood Health Care Center here on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Public service marked the lives of both men in their post-military lives.

John Israelson

Israelson, a lifelong Forest Lake resident, served in the Coast Guard during World War II. After the war, he returned home and worked in this area and logged 20 years in the maintenance department at Minneapolis St. Paul Airport before retiring in 1982.

His retirement life included winters near Corpus Christi, TX and the warm weather months in Forest Lake. In both places, public service was a big part of his life.

ìHe was always one to lend a helping hand,î said Bob Flaherty of Forest Lake who called Israelson friend for 30 years. ìHe was very dedicated to veterans.î

Flaherty and Israelson became friends through American Legion Post 225. There was no cause too big nor too small for Israelson to support, Flaherty said.

Israelson was a life member of the American Legion. He played an active role in Memorial Day programs in Forest Lake. During the annual Independence Day celebration, Israelson would pitch in wherever he was needed, be it the bingo tent or working the food stand.

ìIf I can help out Iím going to do it,î Israelson said in a 1999 interview upon being named grand marshal of the Fourth of July parade by Post 225 officials. In that interview, Israelson joked that he figured he could fry a hamburger just as good as the next guy.

He was also active behind the scenes. For many summers he would raise an abundant crop of tomatoes in his garden, harvest and freeze the produce and donate the tomatoes to the Legion for its annual fall booya.

He also served as a volunteer firefighter in Forest Lake.

Israelson and his longtime companion Margaret Berger spent many winters in Texas. He was also active in his Port Aransas community. Israelson made weekly trips from home to San Antonio driving veterans to the VA Hospital for medical appointments.

John Israelson

Frank Aljets was born in Iowa in 1913 and spent his first 20 years in southern Minnesota before his parents and 12 siblings moved to Forest Lake where they farmed.

Aljets was drafted into the Army shortly after the start of World War II and served with the 22nd Engineers under the command of Gen. Patton.

Aljets took part in the North Africa Campaign, was involved in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, and served throughout the remainder of the European war, including the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944, said his son Jerry Aljets of Forest Lake.

After the war, Aljets returned home to run the family farm. He had also worked in federal WPA jobs and delivered coal in the area, his son said.

Frank Aljets farmed land south of Forest Lake and later moved to a farm in Columbus Township. The Aljets operation included 40 milk cows, 100 hogs and 100 chickens and crops.

ìWe made our living off the farm until about 1967 when he gave it up,î his son said.

During his years in Forest Lake, Aljets became a founding member of Grace Alliance Church in Forest Lake. He served on the board of the Chisago Lakes Cooperative Creamery board and his latter years was active at the Columbus Senior Center.

He lived on the family farm in Columbus in his retirement years and only recently needed the care of the Forest Lake nursing home.

Funeral details

John Israelson was born Nov. 29, 1921. A funeral service was Friday, Sept. 30 at Mattson Funeral Home, Forest Lake, with interment at Scandinavian Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Ruth Israelson, and Margaret Berger earlier this year. He is survived by one cousin, Ethel Israelson VanRyswyk and her husband Gary.

Memorials are preferred to American Legion Post 225.

Frank Aljets was born May 30, 1913. A funeral service was Friday, Sept. 30 at Grace Alliance Church with interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lydia; wife Shirley; and a number of brothers and sisters. He is survived by son Gerald (Nancy) Aljets; sisters Mary Grummons, Irene Willger, Esther Nebur and Betty Knuston and one brother, Lawrence; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials are preferred to Grace Alliance Church.

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Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
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