Al (Alvin) Harms, 89, was born Feb. 27, 1922, in Boyd, Okla., to Isaac and Emma C. Neufeld Harms, the sixth of nine brothers and sisters. He died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, at his home in South Hutchinson.

He was a member of Mennonite Brethren Church all his life, serving in many capacities over the years, and served on the board of the Mennonite Mutual Aid and Property for several years. Al became a Christian as a teenager and was baptized in the river near his country church in Grant County. He attended Spring Valley School until the 9th grade.

Al met the love of his life, Annie Harms, in Ulysses and they were married Aug. 31, 1948, in Blaine, Wash. She survives.

They had 63 years together and raised five children. He worked at Kansas Power and Light as an operator for 35 years. Other survivors include: daughters, Clariece Kohlhorst and husband Carl of Syracuse, Kan., Rhonda Harms of Lawrence, Cindy Hogan and husband Scott of Little River, Kan.; sisters, Ruby Schmidt of Hutchinson, Berniece Givan of Denver, Colo.; brothers, Johnny Harms of Mena, Ark., Clarence Harms of New Wilmington, Penn.; 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Al was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jim Harms; daughter, Beverly McElvain; brothers, David and Isaac Harms; sisters, Edna Kliewer, Anna Mae Goertzen, and Luella Schultz.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at Elliott Mortuary Chapel, with Pastor Garvie Schmidt officiating. Burial will be 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at Ulysses Cemetery, Ulysses, Kan. Friends may call 1 to 9 p.m. Friday with family to receive friends 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary.