On January 14, 2009, South Dakota lost one of its' pioneer ranchers when God welcomed home Albert William Wurnig, age 92.

Albert was born at the family ranch in the Hereford area east of Sturgis, SD, on March 31, 1916. His parents, Frank and Mary Hauser) Wurnig were born in Tyrol, Austria, and were early homesteaders in the Hereford area. A highlight in Albert's life was visiting his parent's native Austria in 1977.

As a young man, Albert worked on the family ranch and attended schools in the Hereford and Sturgis area.

On November 12, 1945, he married Henrietta Hall, a country school teacher. They farmed in the Herford area until 1950 when they bought a ranch near Newell, SD, where they raised their four children. While in Newell, Albert was a member of the Independent Stockgrowers of America and a past president of that organization. He was a 4-H leader for many years and an active member of St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church and the Knights f Columbus.

Albert's wife, Henrietta, passed away in 1973. In 1981, Albert married Robert "Bobbie" Martian in Rapid City. They moved to Sturgis where they lived for 20 years. While living in Sturgis, Albert enjoyed gardening, his part time jobs at William's Middle School and the Sturgis Library where he drove the Bookmobile to the country schools. When he was 80 years old, he began working at Integrity Sheet Metal as a part-time office worker. In 2000, he and Bobbie moved to Rapid City where he was finally willing to retire at age 85. He was a member of St. Therese Catholic Church.

Albert loved his family and people. He loved to tell stories of his childhood and the eventful years that followed. He was a story teller that family and friends loved to listen to. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his four children, Karen (Jack) Hanson, Kingston, WA, Steve, Scottsdale, AZ, Frank (Carmen), Huntley, MT, and Jim, Gillette, WY; his wife, Bobbie, and her family; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Henrietta, and all eight of his brothers and sisters.

Visitation will be Tuesday from noon until 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, January 21, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newell with Father Bill Zandri officiating. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Sturgis Knights of Columbus.