Arden Victor Mackenthun

Arden Victor Mackenthun passed on February 4, 2026. Arden was born on October 29, 1941, in Glencoe, Minnesota, the son of Rudolph and Lillian (Kottke) Mackenthun. He was baptized and confirmed at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe. After attending First Evangelical Lutheran School, grades one through eight, he graduated from Glencoe High School in 1959. He received a B.S. degree in Mathematics in January 1964 from South Dakota State College and was a player on the college football team, winning the conference championship from 1961 to 1963. He received a M.A. degree in Mathematics from Western Michigan University in August 1967, and a PhD in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from the University of Oklahoma in December 1973. All graduate studies were supported by government grants. During this time, he taught mathematics at Webster, S.D., Phillips Junior High in Minneapolis, Luther College and taught Statistics at the University of Oklahoma while being involved in medical research from NIH and NHLI grants. Later he was employed as a Statistician by pharmaceutical companies, Bristol Myers, Searle and Abbott Laboratories, retiring from Abbott in 1997.

Arden was united in marriage on June 4, 1964, to Barbara J. Johnson at House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Richfield, Minnesota and were blessed with 3 children, Amy, Daryl and Kari. They divorced after 15 years of marriage.

Arden is survived by Son, Daryl (Terri) Mackenthun; Daughter, Kari (Jeff) Wasniewski; his brother, Don Mackenthun; Grandkids, Rian and Kaden Wasniewski, Adam (Alex) Mackenthun and Curtis Mackenthun; great grandkids Adalynn & Amelia.

Arden was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy and Lily Mackenthun; Daughter, Amy Mackenthun; Brother Victor (Eunice) Mackenthun; Sister-in-Law, Carol Mackenthun; Sister, Carol Grewe (Gene); Grandson, Kyle Mackenthun; Great Nephew, Christopher Bromley.

Arden was active and enjoyed many activities including sports, hunting, fishing, photography, traveling, construction and his passion was skiing. Skied at over 70 resorts in the Midwest, West, Alaska, Canada, Austria and New Zealand, starting in his mid-40's until he was 75 years old. He also travelled to Costa Rica, Jamaica, Belize and Iceland and made several RV trips hunting, fishing, skiing and sight-seeing. Favorite sites were glaciers, dinosaur digs and exhibits, rocks and big holes in the ground (volcanoes). He acquired many skills in the construction trades from family and friends, and this was very instrumental in rebuilding three houses and several other projects including electrical wiring, decks, patios and sunrooms. Throughout his adult life, he enjoyed watching his kids and grandkids in many sports activities.

A Life Celebration Gathering will be held at Justen Funeral Home & Crematory 3700 Charles J Miller Road McHenry IL 60050 on February 13, 2026, from 5 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. and then a Life Celebration Service to start at 6:30 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

In Lieu of Flowers please consider donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America in Arden's Name or Arden's Late Daughter Amy who had Multiple Sclerosis. Please visit JustenFH.com to share a memory of Arden.