Arness, Francis Filmore 1922 - 2018

ARNESS, WANGSNESS, HAUGEN, FELKE, GERLEMAN, ELSNER, FLACK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:44

U.S. Veteran
Francis F. Arness, age 96, of Decorah, IA, died Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2018 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Pastor Brenda Crossfield and Pastor Dave Sorenson Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah, in the spring, with Full Military Honors by Decorah’s Veterans and Military Organizations, and U.S. Army personnel.

Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Thursday beginning at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church.

Francis Filmore Arness was born March 5, 1922 in Decorah, IA, the son of Richard and Bertha (Wangsness) Arness. He graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1941.

He entered the U.S. Army in June of 1945 and was honorably discharged in December of 1946.

Francis was united in marriage to Lillian Erma Haugen on June 21, 1952 at Decorah Lutheran Church. They were blessed with two children: Robert and Ruth.

Francis farmed for a number of years and then worked at DECO Products in Decorah, from May 1962 until his retirement on September 8, 1987. He loved his flowers, gardening, bird watching, his cats and dogs, playing cards, going on long Sunday rides, and most of all his whole family. He was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church and Helof Holm V.F.W. Post No. 1977, where he was a past Post Commander.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Erma on December 22, 2010; his son, Bob on January 3, 2008; his parents, Richard and Bertha; his father- and mother-in-law, Edwin and Louise Haugen; his sister and her husband, Ethel and Errol Felke; and by two nephews, Erik Haugen and Raymond Felke.

Francis is survived by his daughter Ruth (Dennis) Gerleman of Decorah; four grandchildren: Brenda Elsner of Decorah, Eric (Shelly) Gerleman of Mabel, MN, and John Gerleman and Lisa Gerleman of Decorah; and six great-grandchildren: Cheyenne, Montana and Sierra Jump Gerleman, Dustin and Joseph Elsner, and Benjamin Flack.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Lutheran Decorah Cemetery
 

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