`GIVE IT ALL YOU'VE GOT' IN LIFE GERT ALBREKTSEN SAW MUCH OF THE WORLD, CHERISHED CULTURE.

Byline: Holly J. Andres Staff Writer

``Give it all you've got'' was a favorite expression of Sun Valley resident Gert Albrektsen, who died June 18 of prostate cancer. He was 80.

``He believed that anything can be had if you want it bad enough and if you put all your effort behind it,'' said his former wife, Rita Albrektsen. ``I liked his determination and I thought he would be a good dad. He was quiet, gentle but a no-nonsense man.''

Albrektsen was born June 4, 1925, in Kastrup, Denmark. He served in the tank division in the Danish Army during World War II and received the Danish Guard Hussar military citation.

He graduated from the University of Copenhagen with a degree in agriculture.

He became a naturalized citizen in 1953, two years after moving to the United States. He worked for Roger Jessup Dairy as a processor and as route salesman for Arden Farms and Adohr Farms, until his retirement in 1977.

Despite the demands of a six-day workweek that began at 3 a.m. and involved a lengthy delivery route, Albrektsen never tired of saying ``Let's go,'' and taking a family car trip.

After he retired, he took roads trips to nearly every state, went on cruises and enjoyed the food and culture when he traveled to China, Russia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, all of the Scandinavian countries and Thailand.

``Every two years he went to Denmark. He was proud of being a Dane but also proud to be an American,'' Rita Albrektsen said. ``His favorite holiday was the Fourth of July.''

Albrektsen kept ties to his birthplace by speaking his native language whenever he could and through membership in various Danish American clubs. He was a member and supporter of Danish Soldiers, the Danish Luncheon Club, the Los Angeles Naver Club, the Rebild National Park Society and the Danish Immigrant Museum. He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in North Hollywood.

``He was a gentleman. He was very European with good manners and just a courtly manner,'' said his daughter-in-law Jill Wolffe. ``He projected old-world charm. He was warm, smart and generous with his time. He was extremely encouraging and always willing to help someone.''

Albrektsen is survived by his sons, Gert Joseph and Erik John; a grandson, Christopher; a brother, Kaj, and a sister, Yelva Pedersen, both of Denmark. He was preceded in death by a brother, Erik, and a sister, Inger.

A funeral was held on Saturday at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles.

Holly Andres, [phone]

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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