Arens, John Charles 1909-2003

ARENS, STREFF

Posted By: Bob Arens (email)
Date: 8/2/2005 at 20:36:25

ARENS, JOHN CHARLES 1909-2003
Funeral obituary of John Charles Arens:
John Charles Arens was born to John S. and Rose (Streff) Arens on January 8, 1909 on a farm northwest of St. Leo, Minnesota, a small country inlet ten miles east of Canby, Minnesota. At the age of two, the family moved back to Remsen, Iowa, where they lived for three years. In 1913, they moved to Lismore, Minnesota where he received his education. John was the sixth child of the family having three older sisters, two older brothers, a younger twin brother and a younger sister. His twin brother died at the age of eight weeks; having been much smaller and sick all his short life. In 1931, John graduated from St. Cloud State College and began teaching. He taught six years in Nobles County, Minnesota and 37 years in Pipestone County, Minnesota. On May 1, 1948, he was united in marriage to Mary Martha Slinger. Following their marriage, they moved to an acreage east of Woodstock, Minnesota where they currently reside. On September 23, 1968, John and Mary started taking care of a niece, Angela Slinger. In 1987, she wanted them to adopt her, so they did and it became legal on August 7, 1987. On July 21, 2003, John was admitted to the Pipestone County Medical Center where he remained until his death on August 2, 2003 at the age of 94 years, six months and 25 days.
John received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1959. Besides teaching, he was a 4-H Leader for 15 years in Nobles and Pipestone Counties. He taught catechism for 27 years at St. Martin Catholic Church in Woodstock and for 3 years at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. He was an organist for 8 1/2 years, and off and on in later years. John sang in the choir since he was in the 5th grade. He also worked on the Pipestone Centennial book for Burke Township. He was interested in family history, and wrote up the Arens, Homan, Streff, Frantzen, and Slinger histories.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary Arens of Woodstock, Minnesota; a daughter, Angela Putnam and her husband John of Dodge Center, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Andrew and Briana Santana and Rachel Putnam; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Viola, Susan, Josephine, and Bernice; and three brothers, Raymond, Clarence, and his twin Arthur.

Arrangements By Hartquist Funeral Chapel Pipestone, Minnesota Randall a. Hartquist, Director Duane D. Mabon, Director