James E. Albrecht

Dr. James E. Albrecht, Emeritus Professor of the College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa, died on April 6, 2012, at the Windsor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cedar Falls. James was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on January 10, 1929, to George E. and Laurette (Reddin) Albrecht.  He graduated from West High School in 1947.  In 1951, he married Myrtle Moar, and to this union four children were born. He received his B. A., M. A. and Ed. Specialist degrees from UNI.  He received his Ph  D. degree from Indiana University. His distinguished career in education began in Rolfe, Iowa, where he taught English and Speech.  He and Myrt then moved to Dike, Iowa, where he taught English and Speech and later became the high school principal.  At that time he was the youngest principal in Iowa.  He remained in this role for thirteen years.  In 1965, he became the secondary school principal at Northern University High School, where he served for fifteen years.  He also had teaching responsibilities in the Graduate College at UNI.  He became a full-time professor at UNI in 1980 and remained in that role until his retirement in 1990. Jim was a member of numerous education associations and served as a consultant to over two hundred schools throughout the country and for the Department of Defense for high schools on military bases overseas.  He received numerous awards from education organizations and was a key-note speaker at the NASSP annual conventions. Jim was very passionate about many things in his life, including his wife, Myrt, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, reading, sports, and traveling.  He was an avid golfer and could be found on the golf course with his friends any time the temperature was above 40.  His favorite week of the year was the annual family vacation at Lake Okoboji, a tradition that began in 1970 and continues today. His fun-loving spirit lives on in the hearts of his wife, Myrt, son Mark, daughters Kim (John) Boe, Diane (Randy) Fischels and Laura (Michael) Adams, his eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, his sister Mary Lou (Roger) Doering, brothers Joe (Janet) Albrecht and John Albrecht, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Jean Bonnett. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, with private inurnment at Fairview Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls.  Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m Tuesday at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, and one hour before service at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family, St. Patrick Catholic Church, or the American Stroke Association. Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com Copyright Waterloo Courier on-line edition; downloaded April 9, 2012.