George ‘Ron’ Arntsen
MARQUETTE, MI – George R. “Ron” Arntsen, 81, of Marquette, passed away early Thursday morning, January 3, 2019 at U.P. Health System-Marquette as the result of a stroke with his loving by wife by his side.
Ron was born on August 2, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York, a son of the late George and Betty (Johnson) Arntsen. He was a 1955 graduate of Calumet High School after which time he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving from 1954-58. He then enlisted with the U.S. Coast Guard where he served from 1959-63. He married his wife, the former Mary “Jean” Davis on October 31, 1959 in Ripley, Mississippi.
After military service, Ron worked for Vitro Services and Bell & Howell in Huntsville, Alabama where he was involved in the testing of the first Saturn Boosters that took man to the moon.
Ron also worked with U.S. Forest and Engineering at the Michigan Tech University campus, later becoming a sales engineer with Bell & Howell in Detroit and Washington, DC selling electronic measuring and recording equipment for initial air bag testing.
He worked for the Spectrum Corporation and was a co-owner of Midwest Security System along with his wife, Jean, offering many kinds of security systems and banking equipment throughout the U.P.
Ron served on the board of directors of the Marquette Builders Exchange and the Marquette County Convention and Visitors Bureau. In his free time he enjoyed hunting, Brook Trout fishing, softball, basketball, bowling, golfing and coin collecting. He was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jean Arntsen of Marquette; three daughters, Trina (Jim) Young of Minneapolis, MN, Rhonda Arntsen of Savannah, GA, and Melany Nelson of Naples, FL; three grandchildren, Hadley Young, Andrew Young and Lucy Arntsen; one brother, Gene (Sharon) Arntsen of Marquette as well as several beloved nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 18th at 12 Noon at Messiah Lutheran Church with Rev. Don Ludemann officiating. The Arntsen family will greet relatives and friends beginning at 10:30 Friday until the time of the service in the church. A luncheon will follow in Magnuson Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Bank, 2119 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette, MI 49855 or Messiah Lutheran Church, 305 W. Magnetic St., Marquette, MI 49855 in Ron’s memory.
The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home is assisting the Arntsen family where memories may be shared at canalefuneral.com.