E. Francis ARNDORFER

ARNDORFER, PIEPER, CHIZEK, HOUGEN, HELGESON, MOOTZ, LALIBERTE, CARLSON, DEADRICK, MASAITIS, VOSS, MINER, FRIED

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/30/2006 at 11:04:25

Jan. 17, 1926 – Nov. 19, 2006

E. Francis Arndorfer, 80, of Willmar [Minnesota] died Sunday at Rice Memorial Hospital from injuries received in a motor vehicle accident. The service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar, with a Knights of Columbus Rosary Service at 5 p.m., parish prayers at 7 p.m., and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

He was born Jan. 17, 1926, in Akron, Colo., to Edward and Mary (Pieper) Arndorfer. He graduated from high school in Galt, Iowa, and started farming. He marred Lorene Chizek on Aug. 30, 1949. They lived and farmed in Galt, Britt and Clarion, Iowa, until 1967 when they moved to Willmar. He farmed south of Willmar until 1989, when he retired. They moved into Willmar in 1993. He was a salesman for Trojan Seed Company while in Clarion, Iowa, and was a Pioneer Seed dealer for over 20 years in Willmar. He married Verlene Hougen on Aug. 6, 2005. They lived in Willmar. He was a founding member and past state secretary for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, served as a lector, Eucharistic minister, money counter, sacristan, was active in the Befrienders program and on the parish administrative committee. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 59 years and served as Grand Knight, District Deputy, Faithful Navigator of the 4th degree, Faithful Purser, chairman of Tootsie Roll fundraiser and member of the 4th degree honor guard. He was also a volunteer with Meals on Wheels and member of the UHF board.

He is survived by his wife; children: Kathy Helgeson of Duluth, Mary (and Jim) Mootz of Willmar, Ed (and Marcia) Arndorfer of Willmar, Bill (and Pam) Arndorfer of Waterloo, Iowa, Elizabeth (and Mike) Carlson of Willmar, Steve (and Rita) Arndorfer of Lino Lakes; 26 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; his mother of Adams; six siblings: Jim (and Gladys) Arndorfer of Humeston, Iowa, Clarence (and Joyce) Arndorfer of LeRoy, Ken (and Margaret) Arndorfer of Austin, Roger (and Helen) Arndorfer of Woolstock, Iowa, John (and Janet) Arndorfer of Mankato, Rosemary (and John) Laliberte of Chattanooga, Tenn.; six stepchildren: Peggy Hougen of Willmar, Marcia (and Mike) Voss of Littleton, Colo., Mary (and Rick) Miner of Denver, Colo., Mickey (and Gary) Fried of Willmar, Marjorie (and Bruce) Deadrick of Willmar, Melinda (and Bill) Masaitis of Eden Prairie; 16 stepgrandchildren; and 10 stepgreat-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife in 2002; his father; and one sister.

Copyright West Central Tribune, Willmar, MN
Tuesday, November 21, 2006