Arno O. Seifert

Seifert, Arno O.

Arno O. Seifert, age 95, of Appleton, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 26, 2007, at Appleton Medical Center. He will be lovingly remembered and missed by his family and friends. Arno was born September 16, 1912, in the town of Greenville, WI, to Julius and Alvina (Patitz) Seifert. He graduated from Appleton High School in 1929. He began his long-time career with the First National Bank of Appleton in September 1929. In the following years he completed several banking courses offered through the Appleton Vocational School and later acted as instructor for banking courses offered by this school. In 1949 he graduated from a course offered by the Central States School of Banking through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At the time of his retirement from banking in October 1974, he was Vice President in Charge of Loans His career was interrupted by service in the military during WWII. He served from September 1942 until May 1946, during which time he was assigned patrol duties in the Caribbean and North Atlantic areas. Following his discharge from the service, he was joined in marriage on October 26, 1946, to Muriel E. Anderson, daughter of Milo and Lula Anderson, at Grace Lutheran Church, Winchester, WI.

Arno enjoyed sports, particularly hunting and fishing, but he also entered several annual handball tournaments sponsored by the Appleton YMCA. In his early years his hobbies included gardening–he was especially very interested in experimenting with grafting of fruit trees. He established and operated a fruit orchard on his parents‚Äô property in the town of Greenville. He later purchased a farm in Waupaca County where he raised and marketed Christmas trees under the name Seifert Tree Farm, an enterprise the family intends to continue under the name Seifert Family Tree Farm. Since 1954, Arno enjoyed the family vacations and holidays in the Sand Bay area of Door County. After his retirement, Arno and Muriel enjoyed traveling and they took many trips both within the United States and to many other destinations, including Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Canada.

Arno was active in civic and religious activities in the Appleton area. He was a charter member of the Appleton McDowell Male Chorus, and was a member of the Appleton Kiwanis Club for more than 50 years. He served on the Board of Directors of the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve for many years. He also volunteered or served on the boards of his church and other not-for-profit organizations in the Fox River Valley.

Arno is survived by his daughter Kristi Seifert (Peter Berryman) of Madison, WI; son Stephen (Kathi) of Appleton, WI; daughter Jean (Stephan) Weeks of Santa Barbara, CA; daughter Lynn (Lawrence) Stranghoener of Plymouth, MN; and daughter Laurel (Todd) Wichman of St. Paul, MN; as well as ten loving grandchildren: Erin (Luke) Tyson and Andrew Seifert; Erik (Rae), Mark, and Daniel Weeks; Erika, Rachel, and David Stranghoener; and Karl and Marta Wichman; and two great-grandchildren: Eric and Hannah Tyson. He is also survived by his brother, John (Phyllis) Seifert, and sister, Mabel (Elmer) Schroeder, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by Muriel, his wife of 55 years; his parents Julius and Alvina; six sisters: Laura (George) Palmbach; Ester (William) Lueck; Viola (Arthur) Borchert; Hilda (Erwin) Tellock; Alice (Emil) Kaphingst; and Norma; and two brothers: Wilmer (Mabel) and Rueben.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 29, 2007 at PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2330 E. Calumet St., Appleton, with Rev. Gary Nokleberg officiating. Friends may call at the Wichmann Funeral Home, Appleton, on Friday, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday and directly at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be at Highland Memorial Park

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to either Prince of Peace Lutheran Church or the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve, 4815 N. Lynndale Dr., Appleton, WI 54913.
WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 920-739-1231
www.wichmannfargo.com