Allan Torgerson - Obituary

ORGERSON, Allan Curtis, died Friday, September 20, 2013 in Stevensville, Maryland. Torg or Torgie, as he was known, had recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Born in Albert Lea, Minnesota, he attended Pillsbury Military Academy in Owatonna, Minnesota, Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1946. He married the love of his life, Roberta “Bobbe” Josten in 1946. She predeceased him in 2011. Torg was the son of the late Andres J. Torgerson and Clara Sophia Hanson. He was also predeceased by his brother Dale Andres Torgerson and grandson Timothy Allan Coyer. After Torgie’s retirement as a Colonel from the U.S. Army in 1976, he worked as the Director of Development for the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland and then the Army Distaff Hall in Washington, D.C. While on active duty, he and Bobbe lived in Kyoto, Japan, Sandia Base, New Mexico, Ft. Hood, Texas, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Honolulu, Hawaii, and in Germany and Belgium. In addition, he served two unaccompanied tours in Korea and one tour of duty in Vietnam. After full retirement, Torg and Bobbe spent summer and fall on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and winter and spring in Wickenburg, Arizona. Torgie was active in the Episcopal Church his whole life and was a long-time member of both St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Wickenburg, AZ and Christ Church Parish in Stevensville, MD. He sang in both choirs for many years. While living in Wickenburg, AZ he was active in helping promote and preserve acres of pristine desert by cofounding the Wickenburg Conservation Foundation. He loved music and played the violin beautifully. He cofounded the Wickenburg Chamber Orchestra which led to the creation of the Wickenburg Children’s Cultural Organization (The WCO). He and Bobbe donated dozens of violins to children’s programs both in Wickenburg and Annapolis (The Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra). He played the guitar and harmonica and possessed a beautiful tenor voice and could harmonize effortlessly. Torg was a member of the Minnesota Masonic Lodge #33, the Owatona, MN American Legion Post 77 and the Shriner’s. He was also a member of the Desert Caballeros and the Desert Mountain Caballeros. Torg is survived by his children, Christopher Torgerson (Margo) of Huntsville, AL; Sally Lawson (Donald) of Prescott, AZ; Julie Coyer (Spencer Hopkins) of Annapolis, MD; Thomas Torgerson (Dona Carlozzi) of Stevensville, MD; and Andrea McCally (Thomas) of Washington, D.C. In addition, he is survived by five grandchildren, Parker and Andrew Coyer, Georgia and Garrett McCally, and Brian Lawson and two great-grandchildren, Trent Lawson and Samantha Coyer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Torg’s name to The WCO (Wickenburg Children’s Cultural Organization, (a 501(c)(3) charity)245 North Tegner Street,, Wickenburg, AZ 85390, 928-684-7473. Donations may also be made to Hospice of Queen Anne’s, 255 Comet Road, Centreville, MD 21617. A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2013 from 1-2 PM at Christ Church Parish, 830 Romancoke Rd., Stevensville, MD 21666 where services will be held at 2 PM. A reception for family and friends will follow in Shand Hall. His funeral and burial at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 10AM at the Old Cadet Chapel, 689 Washington Rd., West Point, New York 10996. A reception for family and friends will follow at the Thayer Hotel, West Point, New York. Additionally, a celebration of his life will be held in April in Wickenburg before the 2014 Desert Caballeros Ride. Online condolences can be made by accessing the link at the bottom of this page.