Draft:Alfred Suelzle

Alfred Suelzle

Alfred Suelzle rose from enlisted airman to become a senior officer in the Royal Canadian Airforce and later, also served as senior civil servant for the Province of Alberta.

Alfred was born in Craigmyle, Alberta in 1932 where he was raised on a farm until the age of thirteen. During that time Alfred attended a one-room school house where he also served as the school janitor. During 1944 Alfred's family moved to Port Alberni, BC where he completed his grade school education at Alberni District High School in 1949. Immediately upon his graduation, at the age of seventeen, Alfred sought a career with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Alfred served with the RCAF in Manitoba and BC, at a NATO base in Germany and at RCAF bases in Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia before retiring from the regular force in 1970. During his service he advanced rapidly through the ranks from Aircraftsman to Corporal and Sergeant and was Commissioned as Pilot Officer and Flying Officer in 1962. He retired as a Flight Lieutenant (Captain) and was awarded numerous decorations during his twenty-one years of service. Shortly after Alfred's retirement from the regular force, he joined the Air Reserve 418 (City of Edmonton) Squadron as Adjutant. Alfred was subsequently transferred to 3 Wing Headquarters, Edmonton where he was promoted to Squadron Leader (Major), to Wing Commander (Lieutenant-Colonel) and then to Group Captain (Colonel) as the Commander of 3 Wing, a post he held for a number of years. Upon his retirement from the regular force, Alfred also started a new full-time career with the Alberta Planning Board, based in Edmonton. This second career lasted a full twenty-three years, culminating in Alfred's retirement as the Director and sole full-time member of the board in 1995. Alfred contributed to and served his community, his city, his province, his country and his family throughout his entire life. In addition to his formal careers in service he also periodically held positions or was active in groups such as the Lutheran Church, Boy Scouts of Canada, Air Force Officers Association, Conference of Defence Associations, Community Planning Association of Alberta, etc. Alfred also held a Life Membership in the Royal Canadian Legion. Colonel Alfred Suelzle was known and respected as a gentleman and was immensely successful in all of the roles that he chose or that were chosen for him during his life. He constantly sought to improve the conditions of the people and the enterprises that he encountered. He treated those around him with respect and understanding, gathering many life-long friends and supporters through his leadership and kindness.