ARDELL "AL" C. LIEN

Ardell Carlton Lien sailed off to his final port on June 13, 2019. He was born to Harris and Berdella (Rask) Lien in Spring Grove, Minnesota on February 20, 1935. Growing up, Ardell attended schools in Spring Grove and Caledonia Minnesota. In 1955 He joined the Army, serving two tours in Vietnam. He received a bronze star during this service. Ardell retired from the Army in 1981 after honorably serving for 24 years. Ardell married the love of his life, Maureen Burg in 1962. They had three children, Karen, Eric and Kristina. After he retired from the Army, Ardell and Maureen worked in the real estate business and began sailing in their spare time. In 1993 they retired from selling real estate and begin sailing full time, spending most of their time in Mexico. After many wonderful years of sailing, Ardell's heart began to fail and they were forced to sell their boat and move back to Caledonia. In 2003 at age 68, he received a heart and kidney transplant from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Ardell was so thankful for his transplants, he set out on a journey in 2005 to sail solo around the world in an effort to bring global awareness to organ donation. His journey around the world began and ended in San Diego, 18 months later. For the last twelve years, Ardell and Maureen enjoyed spending summers in Caledonia and winters living in their RV at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Florida. Ardell is survived by his wife Maureen, his sister Sherry (Leonard) Hammer, his three children, Karen Cherry (Mark) Ocala Florida; Eric Lien (Jodi) Portland, Oregon; Kristina Meade (Eric) Alpharetta, Georgia. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Michael Kennedy (Brittany), Jacob Kennedy (Kayla), Hunter Lien, Karsten Lien, Preston Meade, and Ashton Meade, a great grandson Caden Kennedy, and many nieces and nephews. Services will be held on June 28th, with visitation from 9-11 and and services immediately following, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Caledonia, MN. Interment will follow at 3pm at the Preston Veterans Cemetery, Preston, MN. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to the Gift of Life Transplant House, Rochester MN. WWW.gift-of -life.org/donations, checks/funds mailed to the family will be forwarded to Gift of Life.

ARDELL "AL" C. LIEN

February 20, 1935 - June 13, 2019