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Waldstein, Arnold Franklin (1925-2014)

WALDSTEIN, AUST, HART

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/27/2014 at 16:50:49

Arnold Franklin Waldstein
January 17, 1925 - February 8, 2014

Waverly, Iowa

After a full and satisfying life, Arnold Franklin Waldstein (Arne), 89, of 1111 Bach Drive, Waverly, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014, in Hospice at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly.

The youngest of the eight children of his Swedish immigrant parents, Anna and Arthur Waldstein, Arne was born on a farm in Brooke Township, Buena Vista County, Iowa, on January 17, 1925. Baptized and confirmed at the Little Sioux Valley Lutheran Church, he graduated from Lincoln Lee High School. He, then, enlisted in the Army Air Corps to serve his country during World War II. Following his honorably discharged in 1945, he enrolled at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. Subsequently, he transferred to Iowa State College in Ames, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Farm Operation.

On June 17, 1951, Arne married the love of his life, Marianne Elizabeth Aust, at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake, Iowa. His professional career took them to Albany, Georgia, where he worked as a farm manager. In 1953, they returned to Buena Vista County where he farmed and worked for Stalcup Agricultural Services in Storm Lake, in time becoming its President and CEO. Under his leadership, the business grew significantly from a firm of two to one of seven professional farm managers and rural appraisers. In addition, he served as an agricultural consultant for the U.S. Government to improve farming conditions in Turkey and Czechoslovakia. In 1978, he was elected to the Iowa State Senate where he served until 1986 before retiring to return full-time to his business. For his work throughout the years, Arne received many awards and recognitions including the D. Howard Doan award and the National Farm Manager of the Year award given by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

After retiring in 1999, Arne and Marianne moved to Waverly, Iowa, to be closer to family. Nonetheless, they continued to enjoy many international travel opportunities.

Beyond his professional career, Arne was a strong proponent of community and civic responsibility, which he practiced throughout his life. He served on multiple boards, commissions, and other venues at the local, state, and national levels. In Waverly, for example, he joined the Kiwanis, the American Legion, the Community Builders, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and, along with Marianne, the Wartburg College Roundtable. Instrumental in mobilizing the various local military service organizations, he helped form the Waverly Area Veterans Post. An author, Arne, also, wrote many articles for local and statewide publications. His personal memoir about growing up in Iowa, "Water Runs Down Hill," sold more than 3, 000 copies and received wide acclaim.

Above all a family man, Arne Waldstein devoted all of his life's work, whether professional or personal, to enhancing the quality of family life in the communities in which he lived. Possessing a wonderfully precious sense of humor, he loved to kid and joke at family gatherings. A role model of the first order, he, in no small measure, mentored and encouraged his children and grandchildren to work toward their life’s goals.

Arne is survived by his loving wife and life partner of sixty-two years, Marianne; four children: Fredric (Edith), of Waverly, Arne Paul (Marie), of Housatonic, Massachusetts, Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart (Doug), of Hyde Park, New York, and Mark, of Des Plaines, Illinois; seven adoring grandchildren: Lauren, Eric, Emma, Dontina, Annaliese, Nickolas, and Lindsay; and one great grandchild, Mia. Arne will, indeed, be dearly missed by his family, including numerous nieces and nephews as well as by his many friends and colleagues.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Anna Waldstein, four older brothers, and three older sisters.

A Celebration of Arne's Life will be held Sunday, February 16, 2014, at 2:00pm at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Waverly, Iowa. The family will greet family members and friends from 1:00 pm until the service on Sunday at the church. Military rites will be conducted by the Waverly Area Veterans Honor Guard. Inurnment will be at a later date in Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice, Friends of the Family, St. Paul's Lutheran School, Wartburg College, or the Waverly Area Veterans Post. Online condolences may be left at www.kaisercorson.com . The Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home of Waverly is assisting the family with arrangements. 319-352-1187

Copyright © 2014, Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes, Waverly, Iowa

Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes, Waverly, Iowa
 

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