Streff, Arnold Mathew "Arnie" 1919-2021

STREFF, WATHIER, MANN

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/18/2021 at 14:21:14

Mr. Arnold Streff, age 102, of Alton, passed away on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at the Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.

There will be a funeral mass on Saturday, December 4, at 10:30am, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton. The Rev. Fr. Daniel Greving will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Alton. Visitation with the family will be on Saturday, from 9:00am to 10:00am, at the church. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Arnold Mathew was born on November 2, 1919, on a farm south of Alton, one of six children born to Aloysius “Al” and Anna (Wathier) Streff. He grew up on his parents’ farm and attended country school until age 10, when his family moved into Alton and “Arnie” started attending St. Mary’s Academy. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he was trained to be a pilot, and was honorably discharged in 1944 as a First Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.

On February 2, 1948, Arnie was united in marriage to Patricia “Pat” Louise Mann in Sioux City. The couple made their home in Alton, where Arnie taught flying lessons using his own plane. After a few years, he was offered a job by his uncle, Hank Wathier, on his farm south of Alton. Arnie spent many years working with his uncle, eventually taking over the farm after Hank’s retirement. Pat passed away at home on October 31, 1993, after more than 45 years of marriage. Arnie continued farming, along with his son, into his early nineties. In January of 2019, as Arnie’s health declined, he became a resident of the Happy Siesta Care Center.

Mr. Streff was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and had been a member of the Floyd American Legion Post in Alton for more than seventy years. He also belonged to the Sioux Golf and Country Club and was a former councilman for the city of Alton. In his younger years, he enjoyed bowling, square dancing with Pat, and playing slow pitch softball. He was able to spend 32 consecutive winters in Arizona, where he made numerous friends. In August of 2017, Arnie was honored to participate in a Midwest Honor Flight, accompanied by his granddaughter.

He is survived by a daughter and her husband, Barbara Ann and Paul Grachek, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; a son and his wife, Steven Lee and Debra Streff, of Alton; eight grandchildren, Sara (Jeff) Schutz, Christopher Meyers, Holly (Nick) Dollinger, David (Devon) Grachek, Kari Streff, Dana (Ryan) Pettit, Matthew Streff, and Sara Streff; eight great-grandchildren, plus one on the way; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter and her husband, Pamela Sue and William Meyers; a son, Scott Michael Streff; three sisters and their husbands, Evelyn and Barney Bindner, Hazel and Jack Schumacher, and Clarice and Al “Bud” Jonas; and two brothers, Al “Junior” Streff, and Milo Streff, and his wife, Valeria.

Memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.