James T. "Jim" Arndt

1944 - 2018

James T. "Jim" Arndt

Menasha - It is with great sadness that the family of James ("Jim") Theodore Arndt announces his passing on Monday, April 30, 2018, at the age of 73 years.

Jim was born on August 19, 1944 at Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah, Wisconsin. He graduated from Menasha High School in 1962 and served with the U.S. Army for three (3) years stationed in Colorado Springs. During his tenure with the armed services he was trained as and became a skilled medic.

Upon an honorable discharge from the army, Jim returned to Wisconsin and began work at a local hospital in the Fox River Valley. He went on to obtain his Associate Nursing Degree in 1967, which was a huge and cherished achievement for him. It is around this time that he met his former wife, Carol Cheslock, with whom he had three children. He subsequently was employed as a firefighter with the Menasha Fire Department for twenty years saving many lives and positively impacting and supporting his local community. After retiring, he continued to reside in Menasha until his death.

Jim loved spending time with his children outdoors, especially the many trips to High Cliff State Park for hiking, enjoying nature and history. He enjoyed fishing excursions with his family on Doty Island. He attended many live concerts including Neil Diamond, Kris Kristofferson and of course the Mile of Music in Appleton. Additionally he loved visiting local farmers markets to purchase fresh tomatoes and other locally grown vegetables. He also enjoyed his travels which included a trip to his family's home country, Germany, as well as numerous adventures to Idaho to visit family. Jim was an accomplished cook and baker who created some of the most delicious rhubarb pies and German potato salad. Every Christmas, as a family tradition, he would make his famous apple stuffed ducks accompanied by grasshopper drinks for dessert. He also loved and took good care of his cats, which over the years included Muffin, George, Willow, Sadie, Lily and Daisy.

Jim was an incredibly dedicated and loving father for his three children. This was his greatest accomplishment, passing on and sharing his love and knowledge of the world with his children gained through his experiences in life. He had an incredible memory of events, dates, places and names that he loved to share with family and friends.

Jim was also a soccer coach for all three of his kids from a youth level and into high school where he started the girls' soccer team at Menasha High School in the mid-1980's. His coaching was unsurpassed and allowed him to spend more time with his children and their friends, creating incredible memories and touching so many lives around him as a soccer coach and mentor through the years. Anyone who was coached by Jim will remember his clip board on which he pointed out with "the" finger strategies and his red, blue and green formations. He could be heard on the sidelines yelling, "Get on the ball!" as well as a few choice words for the referees.

Jim will always be lovingly remembered by his children, Jennifer (Annie Lux), Todd (Rachel) and Jeffrey (Andrea) as well as his very close family friend Bill Johnson and the entire Lux and Mssika family. Jim will also be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Alexis, Ashley, Solomon, Addison and Eli. He was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Lorraine Arndt, stepmother, Alice Strong and his brothers, Frederick, Robert, and Jack. He is survived by his brother Edward (Ruth) of Phoenix, AZ.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held in early June with details forthcoming from his family.

Memorial donations in memory of Jim can be made to Oshkosh Area Humane Society (1925 Shelter Ct., Oshkosh, WI 54901), Wisconsin Public Television (821 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706) or the Fox Valley Sierra Club (P.O. Box 124, Neenah, WI 54957).