January 24, 1924 – February 28, 2017Arnold Karl Firnhaber – Arnie to his friends and family, 93, of LaPorte, IN formerly of Ann Arbor, MI, passed peacefully into heaven, in LaPorte on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sommerfeld Chapel, 15 N. Barton St., New Buffalo, MI.
Arnie was born January 24, 1924 in Osmond, NE to Karl and Lydia (Troester) Firnhaber. He was a man faithful to God, his family, his church and his country. He was an Air Force veteran, serving 2 ½ years in WWII. Arnie was a 1949 graduate of the University of Nebraska receiving his degree in accounting. He married Helen Jane Pagenkopf on Aug. 1, 1954 in Bethesda, MD; she preceded him in death on Sept. 19, 1987. Arnie lived his last five years in LaPorte, and more than 50 years of his life in Ann Arbor, MI. He worked as an accountant for the University of Michigan, retiring in 1989. Time not spent working was spent with family being a good husband, father and grandfather. He was a faithful church member serving in various capacities on his church’s council. After retirement he continued to serve by traveling abroad on many mission trips.
Arnold is survived by his children – Mark (Anna) Firnhaber of LaPorte, IN, Sarah (Robert) Lau of Chicago, IL, Linda (Eric) Edwards of Dexter, MI, and Kurt (Cindy) Firnhaber of Lewisville, CO; 15 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; brothers – Carl (Diana) Schlichting and Norbert (Geanie) Firnhaber; sisters – Evelyn Thomsen, Naomi (Delbert) Karmeier, Colleen (David) Marasus and Natalie Firnhaber; and sisters-in-law Elizabeth and Helen Firnhaber. He is preceded in death by his parents Karl and Lydia, step-mother Elsbeth, brothers Stuart and Hubert and brother-in-law Wayne Thomsen.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Monday, March 6, 12:00 pm, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 4205 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, MI. Visitation precedes the service from10:30-12:00pm at the church on Monday. Burial will follow at Arbor Crest Cemetery in Ann Arbor. There will also be a reception on Sunday for family and friends at Linda Edwards residence at 2009 Jananne in Dexter, MI from 5:00-7:00pm. Visitation in New Buffalo is on Sunday, March 5, from 2:00-4:00pm(1:00-3:00PM Indiana time) at Sommerfeld Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Valparaiso University in memory of Arnold Firnhaber – 1100 Campus Dr. South, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Friends wishing to leave the family a message of condolence may do so at www.sommerfeldchapel.com