May 5, 1934 – June 3, 2023
Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Parish – St. Cecelia Catholic Church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14 at the Bishop Garrigan Chapel.
Eugene Michael Arndorfer was born May 5, 1934, on the family farm in St. Benedict, the son of Michael and Susan (Kellner) Arndorfer. He attended school and graduated from Corwith High School in 1952.
On Aug. 13, 1955, Eugene was united in marriage to Ramona Gray at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corwith. After their marriage they lived and farmed near St. Benedict where they began their family. In 1971, Gene went to work for Advanced Drainage Systems. He had a very accomplished 40 year career with ADS and was honored into the ADS Ring Club in 1995. His son, Michael has followed his footsteps into ADS.
Gene’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren meant the world to him. He enjoyed attending their many important events and was their biggest fan. He was an avid fan of Bishop Garrigan, watching his children and grandchildren compete in many events. He also enjoyed traveling and took a memorable trip to Japan to see their son who was in the military at the time, with President Reagan and his wife, Nancy.
Gene had a passion for bicycling, averaging over 5,500 miles a year, which lead him to start doing RAGBRAI. He pedaled across Iowa for 25 years until he was 82, often with children and grandchildren and one year with all seven children. Gene was also committed to the Adoration Chapel at St. Cecelia’s for 20+ years, taking the 3 a.m. shift on Sunday mornings. He was known to put his engineering mind to work to fix or create many unique things. He was a member of Divine Mercy Parish and the Knights of Columbus.
Gene died Saturday, June 3 at Arbor Springs of West Des Moines, at the age of 89.
He is survived by his children, Randall (Valerie) Arndorfer of Elk Grove Village, Ill.; Edward (Julie) Arndorfer of West Des Moines; Dean (Perlita) of Gainsville, Va.; Pamela (Dennis) Howarter of Naperville, Ill.; James (Deborah) Arndorfer of Aurora, Ill.; Cinthia (Chris) Winkel of Ankeny; Michael (Jennifer) Arndorfer of Livermore; grandchildren, Lauren, Erin, Katie, Eddie, Mariah, Vanessa, Hunter, Shane, Adam, Haley, Richie, Jenica, Chris, Jack, Luke, Brittney, Andrew and Olivia; great-grandson, Jonah and great-granddaughter, Piper; sisters, Arlene Rice, Mary (Marvin) Tigges and Alice Gramza; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ramona; sisters, June Reding and Marjorie Oxley; and brother, Thomas Arndorfer.
Arrangements are being handled by Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona. Condolences may be left at www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.