Donald “Don” H. Arndt

ARNDT, DONALD HERBERT December 13, 1929 – December 6, 2025

Donald (Don) Herbert Arndt, age 95, was born to eternal life on December 6, 2025 surrounded by his loving family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Elsie Arndt, sister, Shirley Langenhorst, brother, Carlton Arndt, and daughter, Lisa Anderson.

He is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis of 70 years, daughter, Cary Kodras (Ron), son, Thomas Arndt (Andrea), four beloved grandchildren, Sarah (Jessica), T.J., Lindsey (Will), and Lauren, and great-grandchild, Oliver.

Don was born on December 13, 1929 to Herbert and Elsie Arndt in West Bend. He was baptized at home on January 5, 1930 and confirmed on April 18, 1943 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lomira.

The Great Depression of the early 1930’s caused Don’s family to struggle financially. The family was forced to leave the city life of West Bend and move to a farm in Theresa, WI with Don’s grandparents. This was the setting for Don’s childhood and teens until he left for college at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Don funded his university expenses entirely on his own, including working at Rahjes General Store in Theresa on summer breaks and as the organist at Calvary Lutheran Chapel on the Madison campus. Don also received a ROTC stipend and had a part-time student contract with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (Madison office) during his last two semesters.

Following graduation from UW, Don received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps and was called to active duty in April 1953. Don’s primary assignment was with Mobile Demonstration Team #3. His tour of active duty ended in February 1955.

June 18, 1955 marked, “the most memorable event of my life“. It was the day Don married Phyllis Wilke at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Brandon, Wisconsin. The newlyweds went to Yellowstone on their honeymoon. This past June marked their 70th wedding anniversary.

Upon returning from the army and getting married, Don became a full-time NML agent for three years in Madison. He then made a change, accepting a position in the treasurer’s department at NML’S home office in Milwaukee. Don’s first day at the office in Milwaukee was June 16, 1958. He went on to hold various positions including Supervisor of Punch Card Input Division, Disclosure Administrator Specialist and Manager of the Annuity Services Division. Don was a life member of NML’S Quarter Century Club and after 35 years with NML, retired in January, 1991.

Family vacations were a big part of Don’s life, starting with camping in a tent and progressing to a home built pop-up trailer, named CaLiTo. (the first two letters of the kid’s names). Don with some help from a good friend designed and built the trailer. The frame used parts from a Ford Falcon car and Phyllis sewed the canvas roof. The maiden voyage was July 1967 and Calito was retired in the 1990’s.

Don also had a love for bicycling. As a child, Don and his sister had a used bicycle to share and this kindled a life-long interest in biking. Don often biked to work at NML in downtown Milwaukee. Don and son, Tom took many week-long cross the state bicycling tours. From 1979 to 2016, Don logged over 30,000 miles. His last biking was as late as 2019.

Music was at the top of his list of avocations. Both of Don’s parents were musically inclined and encouraged playing the piano. In country school, Don’s lessons were on an old reed organ and cost 75 cents for three quarters of an hour. At age 14, Don played his first full service on the organ at his home church in Lomira which had just installed a new pipe organ. Don has also been organist for Calvary and Christ Memorial in Madison and then for 59 years at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Brown Deer. In addition to being organist, Don directed the choirs in Madison and then at St. Paul’s for 25 years. He then joined the Milwaukee Choristers and enjoyed singing with them for the next 23 years.

Don also enjoyed stamp collecting and woodworking. Don had a large stamp collection that included stamps from the US, Switzerland and Germany which were his main interests. Don’s woodworking began with furniture, including a fine china cabinet, speaker cabinets, dressers, desks, and headboards.

In retirement, Don wanted his woodworking to have an heirloom quality, so he purchased a lathe, and a “how to” book on making nutcrackers. Every year following, Don made a nutcracker for himself and each of his children, which became a treasured Christmas tradition. In total, Don crafted 142 nutcrackers.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff at Luther Manor, Long Term Care unit as well as the Luther Manor Hospice team for their compassionate, loving care, especially in Don’s final days.

Celebration of Life Service will take place on Monday, December 29th at 12:00 PM  with Visitation beginning at 10:00 AM up until time of the service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 8080 North 47th Street, Brown Deer, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Music Enrichment Fund, Luther Manor Foundation, The Milwaukee Choristers or the charity of your choice

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever”