Arthur Pomerenke

OBITUARY

Arthur August Pomerenke, the son of Emil and Edith (Blank) Pomerenke, was born on July 25, 1943, in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota.  He was baptized and confirmed at Esther Lutheran Church.  He attended Joy School in Eastern Township and then graduated from Parkers Prairie High School in 1962.  Art continued his education at the Minneapolis Vocational and Technical Institute for Hotel and Restaurant Cooking and graduated in the Spring of 1963.  After working for a summer at the Minikahda Club in Edina, he was drafted into the United States Army.  After his time serving in the United States Army, Art returned to Parkers Prairie and continued farming.  In 1968, Art received his Master Cake Decorating diploma from the Wilton School of Cake Decorating in Chicago, IL.  Art then began a dairy farm East of Miltona and bought his first purebred Arabian horse.  After meeting his “Soulmate,” Art married Sonja Simonson on October 20, 1973.  Together they raised two children, Wendy and Jeffrey.  After Sonja’s death at age 32, Art made sure he provided everything and anything for his children all while dairy farming, decorating cakes, raising horses, and volunteering his time on different church and community activities.  Art continued to live on his farm and enjoyed being with his children and grandchildren.  Art was married to Mary Schmeisser for a few years and during that time, they enjoyed many trips together.

Art’s faith was extremely important to him and in 1975; Art and his family became members of Elmo Lutheran church.  Art served on church council and board for 36 years.  He lived a Christian life and was always ready to guide those looking for help to find comfort in the Lord.  Another important part of Art’s life was his love of Arabian horses and Welsh ponies.  Since 1967, Art raised beautiful Arabian horses and the early 80’s he purchased Welsh ponies.  Art loved showing his horses by riding in the Parkers Prairie Fall Festival parades, joining the Saddle Club in Parkers Prairie and around the A&WJ Farm with his family.  Special memories of Art’s children and grandchildren are semi rides, spending time on the farm with their dad and grandpa, attending rodeos, his laugh, and the family-fishing trip.  Art loved going to country music concerts and listening to country music.  Art was truly a gentle, compassionate and generous man, who thought of others first.  He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Arthur August Pomerenke, died on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the St. Cloud Hospital at the age of 76 years old.  He is survived by his loving children, Wendy (Alan) Irons of Duluth and Jeffrey (Nicole) Pomerenke of Deer Creek; grandchildren, Elizabeth Irons of Superior, WI and Luke Irons, stationed at Cherry Point, NC; two brothers, Eric (Marlene) Pomerenke of Parkers Prairie and Mark Pomerenke of Monte Rio, CA; four sisters, Alvina Lundsten of Williams, Rosemary Pomerenke-Biel of  Elkhart, TX, Helen (Carl) Oltz of New Branfels, TX, and Sandy (Ron) Tonyan of Newport, WA; many nieces, nephews and other relatives; and step-children, Cindy (Steve) Brown of Minneapolis and Robert Schmeisser of Alexandria; step-grandchildren, Rachel, Hannah and Micah Brown all of Minneapolis; former wife, Mary Schmeisser of Alexandria.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Sonja Pomerenke; sister, Caroline Pomerenke; brother, Edwin Pomerenke; brother-in-law, Chester Lundsten.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at 11:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church in Miltona, MN, with the Pastor Rachel Stout officiating.  A visitation will take place on Friday, January 24, 2020, from 4-7 PM at Faith Lutheran Church in Miltona, with Pastor John Riggle presiding over a family time of sharing.  Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.  Full military honors accorded by the Minnesota Honor Guard and the Parkers Prairie American Legion Post #219.

Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory. www.andersonfuneral.net