Arnold Amor Zollner

MT. ANGEL - Arnold Amor Zollner passed away Wednesday evening, February 9, 2005, at the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center in Mt. Angel, surrounded by his family. Arnold was born May 16, 1915 in Gervais, Ore. to Robert Zollner and Bernadine Berning. He grew up in the Mt. Angel area on the family farm. Arnold's grandfather, Robert Zollner, was an Oregon pioneer who came to the Willamette Valley in 1867 from Minnesota by wagon train. The Robert Zollner family was one of nine Catholic families that started Saint Mary Parish in Mt. Angel in 1881. Arnold's life was one adventure after another. He rode the bucking bronc out of the chute in the first rodeo in St. Paul, Ore., on July 4, 1936 and won four dollars for his ride. He loved horses and had a number of his own. As a young man, he sold his favorite horse, Tilly, to buy an engagement ring for his future wife, Marie. In later years, he enjoyed riding horses at the Mt. Angel Abbey Milk Ranch property and always provided a riding horse for his kids. He married Marie Louise Sander in September of 1940 in Tillamook, Ore. They spent the early years of their marriage in McKee, Ore., then moved to Tillamook where Arnold worked for the Tillamook Creamery Association, and finally returned to the Willamette Valley where they raised their sixteen children on the Zollner family farm on Dominic Road, about three miles outside of Mt. Angel. Marie passed away in 1986. During his career as a long haul truck driver, Arnold earned many safe driving awards and logged close to five million miles. He drove for the Tillamook Creamery Association, S & M Trucking (of which he was part owner), and Willamette Industries. In addition to truck driving, he worked long hours on the family farm, and also cruised timber in California with Larry Zach for Mason, Bruce & Gerrard. Arnold loved playing pinochle, and most afternoons could be found at the kitchen table with a pile of chips, a handful of cards, and a card-playing companion. For many years, that companion was his second wife, Laura Gooley, whom he married in 1993. Highlights of his day included visits from his children, grandchildren, and his many friends, and looking forward to his next serving of Tillamook Brown Cow ice cream. He loved the annual Mt. Angel Oktoberfest celebrations, which served as an informal family reunion. He also enjoyed working in his yard and was famous for his pruning technique. One of his favorite pastimes was traveling through Oregon, exploring new routes and enjoying the countryside. His favorite Oregon destination was Steens Mountain, where in earlier years he went on deer-hunting trips with his father and family friends. He is survived by one sister, Eldred Schiedler; fifteen of his children, son and daughter-in-law, Ed and Anna Zollner of Eugene, daughter and son-in-law, Rita and Wayne Gooding of Canby, daughter and son-in-law, Kathie and Efrain Diaz of Salem, son and daughter-in-law, Dave and Bonnie Zollner of Gresham, son and daughter-in-law, Marty and Sharlene Zollner of Bellevue, Wash., son and daughter-in-law, Morrie and Judy Zollner of Salem, daughter, Christine Zollner of Keizer, daughter and son-in-law, Roseann and Art Bobrowitz of Keizer, daughter, Ann Hadley of Salem, son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Pat Zollner of Eugene, daughter and son-in-law, Marg and Wayne Alto of Salem, daughter and son-in-law, Fran and Dan Berrey of Sisters, daughter and son-in-law, Gina and Jim Ruef of Mt. Angel, son, Vince Zollner of Salem; and daughter, Laura Zollner of Keizer. Arnold is also survived by his wife, Laura Gooley and her five children, daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Gary Schonbachler of Heppner, son and daughter-in-law, John and Diane Gooley of Silverton, son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Karen Gooley of Silverton, daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Rex Anderson of Salem, and son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Suzanne Gooley of Silverton. Arnold had 35 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Bernadine; his wife, Marie; his brother, Gerald Zollner