Armin A. Barth

ARMIN ARLYN BARTH passed away on December 30, 2023 at the age of 96 after a fall occurring the morning of his birthday.  He was born the son of Antone and Vanda (Wenzlaff) Barth on December 25, 1927.  After attending Roosevelt Junior High, the family moved to Portland, Oregon.
     Shortly following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Armin lied about his age and joined the Maritime School for the Merchant Marines stationed at Catalina Island, California, at the age of 14.  As World War II was progressing, he volunteered for service after 10 weeks of schooling.  Armin made two trips to transport weapons, troops and supplies; first on the SS Canada Victory and then on the SS Alcoa Patriot; with port calls in Eniwetok, Guam, Saipan and the Gilbert Islands.  He was discharged from the Merchant Marines on December 14, 1944.  On June 9, 1945, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps as a Private with assigned duty of Heavy Truck Driver again traversing the Asiatic Pacific Area.  While in the Pacific he completed the Marine Corps Motor Transport Truck Driver course and the Motor Transport Dispatcher School.  He was discharged on March 4, 1947 with the rank of Private First Class and received the World War II Victory Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal.  He continued as a Reservist with a Motor Transport specialty with his last discharge on April 14, 1950. 
     After World War II, Armin began a trucking career starting with Krambo Food Stores where he met his future wife, Lois Krueger.  They were married on December 16, 1950 in Merrill, WI.  His trucking continued with Clipper Transit who then merged with Consolidated Freightways Inc (CF) as a Driver/Salesman located at the Menasha, WI terminal.  He continued driving for CF (until their demise in approximately 2003) for 52 years, 11 months where he earned many safe-driving awards and was number one in seniority.  He continued to drive for some other smaller companies and volunteered to drive veterans from Appleton to Milwaukee prior to his permanent retirement.
     Armin enjoyed setting up and running Lionel HO scale train sets, especially with his grandchildren.  In his younger years, there was much square dancing and bowling along with camping and boating.  

     Most of you might remember a “lost little red wagon” that happened in July 2020.  Armin was the owner of that 60-year old wagon that disappeared from his front yard while he was having lunch, received much media coverage for his loss and it was later found and returned to him.
     On June 17, 2023, at age 95, Armin was pleasantly surprised with an event held at the American Legion in Appleton.  Kay Eggert, president of the Appleton Area School District, presented Armin with a high school diploma from Appleton West.  If he had not gone into the service, this is the high school he would have attended.  On that same day, Armin was awarded with the Congressional Gold Medal by Republican Mike Gallagher (WI 8th District) in the presence of Capt Chris Edyvean (AAMV Regional VP) because of a bill passed by Congress in 2020 to award the honor to all Merchant Marines of World War II.  Armin’s grandson, Rick Hojan, is to be commended for his efforts in pursuing these two events for his grandfather with Armin’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other family and friends who watched in awe as he was honored at this event.
     Armin is survived by wife of 73 years, Lois; five children:  twin daughters – Jean (Gary) Brandt and Joan (Gene) Hojan; sons – Gary (Jackie) Barth, Keith (Kelli) Barth, and Kevin Barth; 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Earl, Elmer, Robert Clark, Clifford, Kenneth, Ronald Pahlke; sisters Myra Lau, Jeanine Rosenthal and Jo Ann Ratelle; and grandson Jeremy Vander Zanden. 
     Services will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 601 E Glendale Ave, Appleton, WI on Friday, January 5, 2024, with military honors.  Visitation from 9:00am – 10:45am; Service at 11:00 with Pastor Dan Thews officiating.  Entombment will take place at Appleton Highland Memorial Park, 3131 N Richmond St, Appleton, WI.