Al was the son of Alvin Hayes and Emma (Ufford) Wick. He attended the public schools of Harlan, Iowa. A baker by profession, he came to Nebraska about 1912 settling in Omaha. Alvin came to Pender about 1924 and operated first a bakery and later a small store. He would also operate a bakery for many years at Neola, Iowa.
His first two marriages to Bertha Lamp at Fort Dodge, Ia. on March 1, 1910 and to Ruth Snyder at Omaha on Oct. 23, 1919 ended in divorce. On May 7, 1925 at Elk Point, S.D. he married the former Mrs. Dolly May Crosby (nee Brown, later Smith) with whom he had four children; Betty Jean, Merle, Alvin LaFollette and Vivian May. His wife predeceased him, as did his son Alvin. His daughters Betty Jean and Vivian were adopted out to other families shortly after his wife's death. Betty was adopted by his late wife's cousin Burt County Sheriff Lawrence G. Phipps and his wife Lola. Vivian was adopted by Al's neighbors Harold "Pop" Warner and his wife Dorothy. However, they remained close to him. He was survived by son Merle of San Jose, Calif., as well as daughters Mrs. Betty Minier of Sturgis, S.D., Mrs. Vivian Shramek of Omaha, and 12 grandchildren. Burial was near his late wife in Rose Hill Cemetery, Pender, Neb.
