Vern Francis Arzt

OREGON—Vern Francis Arzt, age 71, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015. He was born on March 4, 1944, the first of two sons born to Francis and Winnie Arzt. Vern's family moved quite often as his dad worked for various farmers at many locations including: Hillsboro, LaFarge, Lime Ridge, Wonewoc, White Pigeon and Sauk City; Cromwell and Fort Wayne, Ind. As a result, Vern never attended the same school for two years in a row. When he was 15 years old, he worked detasseling corn for $.25 an hour and saved enough money to buy himself a new bike. Vern was drafted into the U.S. Army on Sept. 7, 1965, and served two years which included the Vietnam War. After the army, Vern farmed with his dad and brother. He married Sharon Barto on March 15, 1975, and they had three daughters, Prudy, Teresa and Val. Sharon passed away from cancer on July 4, 1989. Vern then met Judy Dent through an ad in the Shopper Stopper. Things did work out even though Vern didn't think they would. The family was known as "The Brady Bunch" especially at the Capital Hill. They purchased their home in Oregon in 1991 and Vern and Judy were married Aug. 7, 1993. After farming, he worked for McFarlane Implement for a short time and then became Road Patrolman for the next 10 years. He also had his own little workshop in his barn where he repaired machinery for many neighbors. After selling his home in Sauk and moving to Oregon, Vern worked a short time for a landscaping firm and then started his own business, Arzt Repair Service which he truly enjoyed. He loved to hunt, fish and took pride in fixing and making things work. Vern had a gift to gab and his famous saying was 'Slow down for the straight away and go like hell on the curves'. Vern is survived by his wife, Judy; children, Prudy Albis, Teresa Arzt, Val (Matt) Lang, Steve (Meghan) Owens, Jeff (Sue) Owens, Dan (Holly) Dent, David (Jess) Dent and Traci (Jeff) Segerstrom; 18 grandchildren, David, Steve, Chris, Marisa, Sofia, Alex, Allison, Leah, Caitlynn, Rhyann, McKenzie, Macayla, Gavin, Hunter, Myles, Maksim, Morgan and Aurora; brother, Gail Arzt; sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Jim) Wahner, Barbara Nelson and Sharon Knapp; brothers-in-law, Jerry Brown, Joe (Sally) Brown and Jimmy (Betsy) Brown; and many other friends and relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Winnie Arzt; father and mother-in-law, Herman and Inez Brown; brother-in-law, Jim Knapp; grandson, Nicholas Femrite; sisters-in-law, Anna Maerz and Betty Reed; nephews, Jason McGuigan, Scott Owen and Brad Knapp. Funeral services will be held GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL HOME, 1150 Park Street, Oregon, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. A luncheon will immediately follow the service. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2015, and again from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Oregon Funeral & Cremation Care 1150 Park Street (608)835-3515