Carl Frederick Arneson

BARNEVELD / MADISON - Carl Frederick Arneson, age 93, passed away Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, at St. Mary’s Hospital. He was born Nov. 18, 1929, the sixth child of Anton S. and Agnes (Grimstad) Arneson, Sr. of Barneveld. He was married in 1952 in Primrose Lutheran Church to Lois M. Melland who predeceased him in 2014. He is survived by their daughters, Susan Arneson and husband Allen Weaks of Lathrup Village, MI, and Karen Arneson and husband Charles Pfalzer of Walnut Creek, CA.

A lifelong resident of Barneveld, Carl graduated from Barneveld High School and attended St. Olaf College and the University of Wisconsin. He proudly served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951, served in Japan during the Korean Conflict, and was discharged as Staff Sergeant in 1954. He particularly appreciated the opportunity to participate in the Wisconsin Honor Flight to Washington, DC in 2013.

Upon return from the service, he began his employment at the Barneveld State Bank, taking on greater management responsibilities over the years. He was a longtime member of its Board of Directors and ultimately became President. Following the merger with M&I Bank of Dodgeville, he served as Vice President/Cashier and a member of the Board of Directors of M&I Bank of Dodgeville until his retirement in 1992.

Carl followed family tradition by being very active in the Barneveld community. He served as Village Clerk and ultimately Clerk/Treasurer; Municipal Justice; Secretary/Treasurer and member of the Volunteer Fire Department; member of the Village Planning Commission after the devastating tornado in 1984; and was Administrator of the Village Revolving Loan Fund following his bank retirement.

A 50-year member of the Barneveld Masonic Lodge No. 319, joining in 1951, he served two separate terms as Master of the Lodge, was elected Treasurer in 1991, and was Secretary/Treasurer from 1995 until 2002. A member of the Masonic Scottish Rite, Valley of Madison, he was honored to serve as Thrice Potent Master in 1984. He was privileged to serve as Grand Tiler of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Wisconsin in 1998.

Carl was especially proud of his 100% Norwegian heritage and enthusiastically took on the research of his (and his wife Lois’) family ancestry in the 20+ years after he retired. He connected with many distant relatives both in the U.S. and Norway, collecting photos, documents and stories that wove a multi-layered narrative about the lives of their Norwegian forefathers in southwestern Wisconsin. He compiled a comprehensive genealogical record of his great-great-grandfather, Andrew E. Arneson, on the 150-year anniversary of his immigration, transcribed memoirs of his grandfather Carl Grimstad from his years of homesteading on the Dakota prairie, and published the Civil War diaries of other family members. Based on the information he gathered, Carl and Lois crafted a trip of a lifetime to Norway in 1997 to visit villages, churches and homesteads of their families who primarily immigrated in the mid to late 1800’s. The enormous volume of both primary and secondary research Carl generated was donated to the Mount Horeb Historical Society and Museum archives for future generations and Norwegian immigrant researchers to access.

A lifelong member of Barneveld Lutheran Church, Carl held many offices of trust in that Christian community. He was Sunday School superintendent, Church Council member and President, and a choir member since 1954. He served as the church’s first adult acolyte under the Rev. Robert Twiton. He and Lois were Synod delegates to the National Church Convention in San Antonio, Texas. He also held the position of Secretary of the West Blue Mounds Lutheran Cemetery Association for many years.

He was also a longtime member of the Barneveld Advancement Association and American Legion Post No. 433.

In addition to his daughters Susan and Karen, Carl is survived by his brother Anton (Sam) Arneson, Jr. of Madison and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his parents; brothers Philip and Theodore; and sisters Rebecca Arneson Nause and Barbara Arneson.

A funeral service will be held at Barneveld Lutheran Church, 505 Swiss Lane, Barneveld, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, with Pastor Rhia Strohm presiding. Family and friends who wish to view the service via LIVE STREAM may visit Carl’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com and click on the Live Webcast link at the time of the service. Visitation will be held at the church from 12 noon until 3 p.m. on Sunday. Private inurnment in the West Blue Mounds Lutheran Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Barneveld Lutheran Church Endowment Fund or to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Camacho Mount Horeb

Funeral & Cremation Care

500 N. Eighth St.

(608) 437-5077