Robert Arndt Obituary

Robert Lee Arndt, age 77, of Wilmot, SD, passed away on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at his home.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Pastor Cheryl Rondeau-Bassett will officiate.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of Robert’s obituary page at www.mundwilerfuneralhome.net.

Robert Lee Arndt was born on October 13, 1947, to Robert J. and Gladys J. (Jacobson) Arndt at Graceville, MN, where he was baptized in the Lutheran faith. Robert attended school and graduated from Ortonville High School with the Class of 1965.

He enlisted with the Minnesota National Guard in May of 1966 and was honorably discharged in May of 1972 after six years of service.

Robert married the love of his life, Carol Olson, on November 11, 1967, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN. They lived in Arizona for a few months but returned to Minnesota and settled in Eden Prairie. While there, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Lisa, in June of 1971 and the addition of son-in-law, Corey, in 1994. Bob and Carol then lived in Chaska, MN, until Bob built their family home with the assistance of his father-in-law, Ralph, in Carver, MN, in 1978.

Robert worked for Hitchcock Industries from 1967-1969. He then started work with the Eden Prairie School District as Supervisor of Maintenance/Buildings and maintained that position until his retirement in 2003. Upon his retirement, he was given an arial photo of the Eden Prairie school captioned “The House that Bob Built.” Another highlight of Bob’s career was coordinating a visit to the school by President George W. Bush. Bob was a hard worker and was always willing to lend a hand wherever he was needed.

Robert and Carol purchased their home on Big Stone Lake in 2003 where they continued to enjoy their retirement together.

Robert was an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed hosting family and friends at the Arndt Compound for duck and pheasant season. He and Carol had many adventures traveling through the winter months and throughout the year. Summers found him, Carol, and a host of family and friends on the lake filling his freezer with fish for his famous fish frys. Sometimes those gathered just enjoyed a pontoon ride on the lake. He also had a passion for music and singing. With his amazing voice, he entertained several nursing homes monthly with his karaoke during his retirement. He always made sure to have his system set up and running when his family would all gather each year. Robert especially loved his time with his family and loved them all.

He was a proud lifetime member of the American Legion.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 56 years, Carol Arndt; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Corey Moening of Carver, MN; sister, Faye Tischer of Beaver Dam, WI; brother, Murray (Debbie) Arndt of Virginia Beach, VA; sister-in-law, Marge Arndt of Twin Lakes, WI; sister-in-law, Darlene (Michael) Leonard of Chanhassen, MN; many nephews, nieces, and a host of friends who will miss him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Gladys; brothers: Dale (Marlene) Arndt, Ben Arndt and Bradley Arndt; sisters: Barbara (Jim) Wellnitz, and Janet (John) Maleck; parents-in-law, Ralph and Doris Olson; and sister-in-law, Shari (Mike) Zetzman.