Alfred “Al” Fiffe passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on Dec. 15, 2025, in Monett, Missouri.
Alfred “Al” Fiffe was born Dec. 26, 1929, in Aurora, Kansas, and was raised in Salina, Kansas, alongside three brothers and two sisters by his hard-working parents, Alfred Sr. and Marie Louise. From an early age, Al was known for his quick wit, charm and fun-loving spirit. A true social butterfly, he had a natural gift for bringing joy to those around him.
Al attended Sacred Heart Schools in Salina, where he proudly earned a spot on the varsity basketball team beginning his freshman year. His first job was at the Salina Country Club, where he worked as a caddy and later became caddy master, mentoring younger caddies.
After school, Al built a successful career in insurance sales, where his determination and talent quickly set him apart. He earned numerous awards and was once proudly ranked as the number two salesman in the nation. Continuing his career with insurance into his 80s, he also owned and operated a successful retail liquor store for just under 50 years, a business that was eventually managed by his oldest son, Steve.
On Aug. 4, 1951, Al married the love of his life, Irene, after being introduced by her sisters. Together, they built a beautiful life and raised three children: Steve (Shirley), Michelle (Mike) and Brian (Niki). Those closest to him were always at the center of Al’s world. He cherished countless joyful weekends and years at the family cabin, always full of family, friends, laughter and love.
Al carried deep pride in his family’s military service. All of his brothers and his son, Brian, served their country, and his brother, Romaine, made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II and was laid to rest at Normandy. He was a devoted member of Holy Cross and Saint Lawrence Catholic Churches, where he served in numerous roles, including chairman of the building committee for Holy Cross. Known as the “rosary man,” he dedicated countless hours to making or repairing thousands of rosaries by hand and took great joy in giving them away to everyone he met.
Golf was Al’s absolute passion. He shared his love of the game freely through playing, mentoring and coaching others. He especially cherished time on the course with his daughter, Michelle, and her group of “golf girls,” along with his weekly outings with his golf buddies. With a grin, he loved to point out that being over 90 meant no green fees and eventually graduated to his favorite perk of all, “playing it wherever he wanted to play it,” proudly noting that his age had finally surpassed his golf scores. Beyond the fairways, Al found joy in life’s simple pleasures: spending time with all of his friends at Oak Pointe, Mexican food, homemade soups, games with friends, and time spent outdoors.