Funeral services will be held this spring for 97-year-old Arnold F. Wiens of Mankato. Arnold Wiens died on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health System-Mankato. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Arnold F. Wiens was born in Delft, Minnesota to John J and Sarah Wiens, the third child of eight children, on January 20, 1917. He was given the nickname of “Chief” at a young age. This followed him the rest of his life.
Despite the fact that Arnold’s father expected his sons to follow him in a career of farming, and that education was not of the highest priority,Arnold was determined to finish high school and graduated at the age of 20. He then worked his way through Chillicothe Business College to become a telegrapher, met his future wife, joined the United States Army and spent the next four years in the European Theater of World War II. After the war, he married Barbara McManus and spent the remainder of his working life as a Depot Manager and telegrapher of Northwestern Railroad in southern Minnesota.
In retirement, the couple divided their living between Florida and Minnesota and ended up living at Old Main in Mankato, where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. He was particularly grateful for the support of Old Main in his trip to Washington D. C. for World War II veterans.
Arnold had a great sense of humor and was a generous Boy Scoutmaster, was active in his church and kept current on local and national politics. In his later years he enjoyed watching football and other sports. He loved a good laugh and conversation and enjoyed mealtime at Old Main.
Survivors include his son, Roger and two sisters, Charlotte Prokop and Marcella Siegwarth.
He was preceded in death are his wife, Barbara; four brothers, Harold, Jacob, Edwin and Ted and one sister, Blondina Friesen.
