Alvin Jospeh Bieker

Alvin Jospeh Bieker

Alvin “Alvie” Bieker, Atwood’s Chief Ambassador, was born in Hays, KS on January 12, 1953, the son of John and Alvina (Degenhardt) Bieker. He came to the Prairie Development Center (PDC) when it opened in Atwood in 1975, coming from the Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka, KS. Then the PDC was an affiliate site of Homer B. Reed Adult Training Center in Hays, which was the cornerstone of DSNWK.

Alvin first lived in the American Hotel, purchased by PDC, in the late 70s and early 80s then moved to other PDC family teaching homes in the community and eventually lived independently in a Wheatridge apartment with PDC supported living services. Later in life he moved to the Plumb Street group home. He had worked at Bell and Carlson, The Square Deal Newspaper, in the PDC Ceramic Shop and on the building cleaning crew.

After retiring he was a regular at morning coffee at Williams Brothers Grocery with a special group of friends Coach Dan Lankas, the late Bill Beamgard, Dick Williams and Joe Samson Sr and others keeping him flush with change in his pockets.

Alvin was a social butterfly, attending Atwood Rawlins County High School sports events, Annual Rod Runs and flirting and proposing to many ladies near and far. He was an avid fisherman at Lake Atwood, rode his bike up and down main street and greeted everyone with a big wave, smile and kind heart. He had a special appreciation for Military and Police Men and Women and those who died in the line of duty, like his dear friend Danny Trail. Alvin was recognized by DSNWK as the Citizen of the Year in 2010 and Good Neighbor in 2020.

Alvin loved Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings and liked to be the center of attention and be in the loop of latest town news or water cooler chatter. Lastly, if you knew Alvin closely, he loved and cared for you wholeheartedly! He was a special friend to many.

Alvin passed away peacefully in his home at Plumb Street on December 29, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents and survived by his twin sisters, Betty and Barbara Bieker, of Atwood, Guardian Chris Sramek and family of Atwood, and many DSNWK friends from all around Northwest Kansas.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 2, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Atwood, KS, with Father Henry Saw Lone officiating, burial in Fairview Cemetery, Atwood. A Celebration of Life lunch will follow at Sacred Heart basement. Friends are welcome to come share memories. Memorials are suggested to the Prairie Development Center, DSNWK, Inc Atwood, KS and may be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com