Arnold "Arnie" W. Dovenmuehle, 83, of Wadena, passed away May 1, 2009, at Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena.
He was born May 9, 1925, to Ben and Lena (Rohr) Dovenmuehle in Taylors Falls, Minn. He enlisted in the Army in July 1944, serving as a corporal with the 84th Division Railsplitters, 334th Division, C Company. He was stationed in Europe during World War II and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded in action twice, receiving two purple hearts. He remained in Europe approximately six months with the Army of Occupation and assisted with the aid effort under the Marshall Plan. He was honorably discharged in May 1946 at Fort Sheridan, Ill.
He married Elvera Schmidt on July 18, 1948, in Wadena. They raised nine children. Other than his military service, he spent his entire life in Wadena. His livelihood was as a mechanic at Uselman's and working in the parts department at Juers Repair. He was a member of the VFW, and Lake Itasca Pioneer Farmers, Inc. He enjoyed woodworking and fishing, and was interested in antique tractors.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 8, at St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena with the Rev. William Stockman officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Warren Boylan, Walter Goedel, Carl "Sonny" Dovenmuehler, Earl Dovenmuehler, Lucille Rach, and Neal Juers. Pallbearers will be Joseph Dovenmuehle, Amy Dovenmuehle, Adam Dovenmuehle, Karen Dovenmuehle, Jerrold Dovenmuehle and Jeff Dovenmuehle. Military honors will be given by the Elmer Goche Post 3922, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Wadena. Interment will be in Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis. Arrangements are with the Johnson Memorial Home in Wadena ( www.johnsonmemorialhome.com ).
Survivors include his sons, Tom (Wendylee) of Minnesota, Steve (Diane) of California, Bruce of Minnesota, Darrell and Don, both of Calfornia, Jeff (Vicki) of Wisconsin, and Jerry (Karen) of Minnesota; daughters, Kathy (Henning) Egner of Kentucky, and Linda (Ken) Stoddard of California; 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, Carl (Jan) Dovenmuehler, and Earl (Eleanor) Dovenmuehler, both of Minnesota; and sister Lucille Rach of Wadena.
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He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Lena; and brother, Bernard.
