Obituary of Alfred Ulversoy

Alfred Ulversoy, 90, died on Tuesday April 1, 2014 at St. Clare’s Hospital in Denville, NJ. He was born in Ulversoy, Norway on August 6, 1923 to Alfred and Marta Gurina. In 1950 he and his wife Harriet came to the USA, settling in Brooklyn, NY until moving to the Marcella section of Rockaway, NJ in 1958. In 2010 they moved to Denville, NJ. When Alfred was sixteen years old he joined the Norwegian Merchant Marines and sailed out of Norway to see the world. Norway was invaded by the Germans on April 9, 1940 while he was out to sea and did not return home until 1947. Amazingly, all seven ships he sailed on returned home safely. After the war he married Harriet Waage on October 30, 1949 and came to America on Feb. 20, 1950. He joined the Carpenters Union in Brooklyn. He later worked on tug boats and became an oil barge Captain for Mobile Oil Corporation retiring in 1989. Alfred was an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Marcella. He designed the church on Green Pond Road and volunteered with other families to build the church. He has been a member of the Sons of Norway and the Nor-Bu Lodge in the Lake Telemark section of Rockaway, NJ. In 2011 he and some of his family traveled back to Kristiansand, Norway with his close friend Olav Vedvik to be part of the Christening of the D/S Hestmanden. This ship survived WWI and WWII and has been refurbished as a floating museum. The King was part of the celebration and personally honored each war sailor with a shake of the hand and a grateful smile. On the eve prior to the event, pictures and interviews took place with the sailors in hope of documenting their unique stories to preserve for future generations to learn about. He was predeceased by son Dennis Ulversoy on May 10, 2012. He is survived by Harriet,his wife of 64 years . His daughter Vivian Spitalny and husband Brett of Coral Springs, Fla. Philip Ulversoy of Denville, Allan Ulversoy and wife Christina of Peachtree City, Ga. and Susan Ulversoy of Denville widow of Dennis. As well as his Grandchildren Corissa Ringer, Ariann Dennison, Leif Ulversoy, Sean Ulversoy, Tiana Ulversoy, Kiersten Ulversoy, Kyle Ulversoy, Tristan Ulversoy and Jonathan Ulversoy and his Great Grandchildren, Brooke, Brandon, Anna, Luke, Maia, Jaxon and John. He is also survived by his brothers Magnus and Lauritz and his sisters Gunvor and Berta all of Norway. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday April 12, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Green Pond Rd. Rockaway, NJ. Following services burial will take place in Denville Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Friday Evening from 7-9 PM at Norman Dean Home for Services 16 Righter Ave. Denville, NJ www.normandean.com. Please share a memory of Alfred by lighting a candle on our web site. Donations are being accepted to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 508 Green Pond Road Rockaway, NJ 07866.