Kenneth J. Arlt

1935 - 2025

Kenneth J. Arlt

September 13, 1935 - April 22, 2025

Kenneth J. "Whitey" Arlt, age 89, died Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Veterans Home in Norfolk.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 26, 2025 at St. Anthony Church in Columbus. Visitation is Friday from 4:00 -7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m., vigil service, all at the church. Burial is in St. Bonaventure Cemetery with Military Honors by The American Legion Hartman Post #84 Honor Guard.

In lieu of plants and flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to: St. Anthony Catholic Church, The American Legion Hartman Post #84 Honor Guard, or the donor's choice.

Kenneth Joseph (Whitey) Arlt was born on September 13, 1935, in Humphrey, Nebraska to Leander (Pat) and Evelyn (Diederich) Arlt. He attended school at Holy Family, Lindsay, Nebraska, graduating with the class of 1953. In November of 1953, he, along with three friends, joined the US Army and took basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas. After basic, he went to Ft Lee Virginia and Camp Chaffee Arkansas and finally to Ft Sill, Oklahoma where he was a radio operator in the Artillery. On April 12, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Bernice Kurtenbach, and they lived in Lawton, Oklahoma until his discharge in November 1955. He worked for Behlen Mfg., for a few years and in 1963 he began working for the USPS where he continued working until his retirement in 1992. After his retirement he worked part time for the Columbus Cemetery and for Hadley Braithwaite, Van Berg Golf Course He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 3704, a member of the American Legion Post 84 for 50 years, a charter member of Amvets Post 10, and a lifetime member of DAV. He assisted for many years with placing flags at the Bell Tower, Frankfurt Square and placing flags on Tombstones of veterans in Columbus Cemeteries on Memorial Day. He was a member of the American Legion Honor Guard for 30 years and helped with 676 services and received the Keith Bryan Award. He was a Volunteer Bingo Worker at VFW for over 30 years. He has been a member of St. Anthony Church since 1958, where he ushered for over 20 years, was a member of Perpetual Adoration since it's inception and was a life member of Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed sports of any kind, played American Legion baseball and town team baseball and softball as a young man. He played on several softball teams in the Columbus and Genoa area. He coached Little League Baseball for all his sons and was a volunteer umpire for many games and had many "discussions" with many fans over the years. He was a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan and attended many of their games over the years with his wife. Whitey was also a big Husker fan and he with his wife and his siblings attended many Husker games over the years, having been to all Big 12 and Big Eight stadiums creating many memories. He attended most of his sons' baseball and midget football games and when they were in high school, did not miss a wrestling meet. He made many friends during these events. He loved playing cards for many years with his friends and later with his grandkids.

He is survived by wife of 70 years, Bernice Arlt of Columbus; children: Peg (Ron) Ziola, Tom, Tim (Kim,) Joe (Kay,) John (Lois) all of Columbus and Pat (Rhonda) of Wichita, KS; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; brothers, Bob (Judy,) Jim (Melanie;) sister, Mariette Christensen; sister-in-law, Janie Arlt.

Preceded in death by parents, Pat and Evelyn Arlt; brothers, Glen & Darrell; nephew, Gary Arlt; brother-in-law, Del Christensen; sister-in-law, Darlene Arlt.

Services are with McKown Funeral Home.