Robert Charles Arvesen, 83, of Plymouth, died on November 18, 2012 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. Bob was born March 22, 1929, in Chicago to Walter and Irene Arvesen. He and his family moved to Plymouth in 1968, where he served as Industrial Sales Engineer for Sinclair Refining and Atlantic Richfield Companies. He later owned and operated Arvesen’s True Value Hardware in Plymouth for ten years, after which he served as Superintendent of the City of Plymouth Street Department from 1990 to 2000. He served faithfully on the Board of the Plymouth Community School Corporation for over twelve years, serving two terms as President.
Bob served in the United States Air Force and was stationed in England and Germany during the Berlin Airlift following World War II. He was a Charter Member of the local Elks Lodge, a member of American Legion Post 27, a Life Member of VFW Post 1162, and a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 130. He was an enthusiastic reader, puzzle solver, hobbyist, and inquisitive self-taught person. He especially loved gospel, opera and jazz music and was a noted die-hard Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. In 1951 Bob married Patricia Earl in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Patricia passed away in 1963. Bob married Janet Van Asten in 1964 in Riverdale, Illinois. Janet passed on in 1983.
Bob is survived by his daughter Nancy Bice of Marshall, MI, daughter-in-law Paula Arvesen of Plymouth, son Jerry (Janice) Arvesen of Bloomington, IN, daughter Karen Green of Plymouth, daughter Patty Pynaert of Plymouth, and son Eric Arvesen of Plymouth. He was preceded in death by daughter Barbara Arvesen in 2009 and son Mark Arvesen in 2012. Bob is also survived by twelve loving grandchildren Melissa (Mark) Wilton, Nicholas (Jamie Lynn) Bice, Scott (Tricia) Arvesen, Stacy (Tony) Bennitt, Patrick (Samantha) Arvesen, Daniel Arvesen, David Arvesen, Joseph Green, Andrew (Lynn) Green, Lisa Green, Tara Pynaert and Tia Pynaert, and twelve great-grandchildren. Roberto (Doris) Mata Naranjo, of Costa Rica, is a special son whom Bob and family hosted for a year as a foreign exchange student. Also surviving are sister Irene McQuaid, sister Barbara (Earl) Devereaux, and brother Walter (Mary) Arvesen, all of Palos Hills, Illinois. A sister, Delores Sarsfield, preceded him in death.
Visitation will be at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 North Michigan Street, Plymouth, IN on Tuesday, November 20 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, November 21 at 10:00 am with Philip R. ‘Rick’ Gaul officiating. Burial will be at New Oakhill Cemetery in Plymouth with Military Funeral Honors provided by members of the Plymouth American Legion Post 27, Veterans of Foreign Wars – Marshall County Post 1162 and the D.A.V.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN www.stjude.org, or St. Joseph’s Indian School, Chamberlain, SD www.stjo.org.
Jeanie Martin says
Trisha, we just talked about him! I am so sad that you all have to go this again…esp. So soon! You will all be in my heart and prayers
Holli Shorter Pifer says
Karen,
I was sorry to hear about the passing of your father. He was a man always full of life and he will be missed by many.
I remember seein you guys at he Brass Rail and he always appeared to be having so much fun! You will have many great memories of him.
May God bless you,
Holli Shorter-Pifer
Gwen DeMont-Calvert says
It was a great pleasure to get to know Bob on a more personal level while he was with us at the Kasper Home. He was a lot of fun and will be greatly missed.
Eric ? you know if you need anything at all the ?normal?s? are here for ya! Love and hugs my friend!
Gwen
Susan M. Paprocki says
Dear Family:
I am sorry for your loss. I am a cousin and Catherine Naylor sent me an email to let know that Bob died. Just recently she sent me a photograph he found and we poked through the webs of memory to put a name on a few of the faces appearing in the family picture. I was so glad to receive that picture. He was certainly a fine man with a fine family.
Susan Paprocki
Dr. Bill Kirkley says
I wish to express my sympathy to the Arveson family for your loss. Your family has really been through a lot. Take care.
Dr. Bill Kirkley
Cheryl Berger says
Eric,
Mark and I were very sorry to hear about your dad\’s passing. I apologize that we didn\’t make it to his viewing, Mark was on duty in South Bend. You have our best wishes and prayers.
Tom Bice says
Nancy, Jerry, Karen, Patty and Eric, I sure was sad to hear about your Dad\’s passing. He was someone special and I have very fond memories of him. My best to all of you and his example and qualities will be a strength to you in the future.
Tom Bice
Shirley Gidley says
My thoughts for each of you at this time of passing for your father.
Kris (Fehrer) Pedler says
Eric and family, I am so sorry about your dad. I just now read this. You and your family are in our prayers!!
Mary Pat (Fehrer) Kubina says
Dear Arvesen Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Bob\’s passing. He was so much fun to talk to! I\’m really glad I had the chance to see & talk with him when visiting my dad! You all have MANY great memories to keep in your heart. He was a GREAT person! I\’m also very saddened and sorry to hear about Mark. I had no idea that he passed away and so recently. You all have been through much sorrow and I\’m keeping all of you in my prayers and thoughts. \”Please dear God, put your arms around all of them, give them comfort and take away their pain and emptiness, Amen.\”
Jeanie Martin says
Trisha, we just talked about him! I am so sad that you all have to go this again…esp. So soon! You will all be in my heart and prayers
Holli Shorter Pifer says
Karen,
I was sorry to hear about the passing of your father. He was a man always full of life and he will be missed by many.
I remember seein you guys at he Brass Rail and he always appeared to be having so much fun! You will have many great memories of him.
May God bless you,
Holli Shorter-Pifer
Gwen DeMont-Calvert says
It was a great pleasure to get to know Bob on a more personal level while he was with us at the Kasper Home. He was a lot of fun and will be greatly missed.
Eric ? you know if you need anything at all the ?normal?s? are here for ya! Love and hugs my friend!
Gwen
Susan M. Paprocki says
Dear Family:
I am sorry for your loss. I am a cousin and Catherine Naylor sent me an email to let know that Bob died. Just recently she sent me a photograph he found and we poked through the webs of memory to put a name on a few of the faces appearing in the family picture. I was so glad to receive that picture. He was certainly a fine man with a fine family.
Susan Paprocki
Dr. Bill Kirkley says
I wish to express my sympathy to the Arveson family for your loss. Your family has really been through a lot. Take care.
Dr. Bill Kirkley
Cheryl Berger says
Eric,
Mark and I were very sorry to hear about your dad\’s passing. I apologize that we didn\’t make it to his viewing, Mark was on duty in South Bend. You have our best wishes and prayers.
Tom Bice says
Nancy, Jerry, Karen, Patty and Eric, I sure was sad to hear about your Dad\’s passing. He was someone special and I have very fond memories of him. My best to all of you and his example and qualities will be a strength to you in the future.
Tom Bice
Shirley Gidley says
My thoughts for each of you at this time of passing for your father.
Kris (Fehrer) Pedler says
Eric and family, I am so sorry about your dad. I just now read this. You and your family are in our prayers!!
Mary Pat (Fehrer) Kubina says
Dear Arvesen Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Bob\’s passing. He was so much fun to talk to! I\’m really glad I had the chance to see & talk with him when visiting my dad! You all have MANY great memories to keep in your heart. He was a GREAT person! I\’m also very saddened and sorry to hear about Mark. I had no idea that he passed away and so recently. You all have been through much sorrow and I\’m keeping all of you in my prayers and thoughts. \”Please dear God, put your arms around all of them, give them comfort and take away their pain and emptiness, Amen.\”