Arthur Charles SCHEUNEMANN

Age 74 Passed away peacefully on September 11, 2023 in Bakersfield, California. Art was born on February 11, 1949 in St. Paul to parents Arthur and Jeanette Scheunemann. He had 2 older sisters, Marcia, and Susan. He spent his childhood on the family farm in Afton and was active in Boy Scouts and 4H, raising beef and hogs that helped finance his first car and college tuition. He graduated from Stillwater High School in 1967. He earned his BA in Physical Education and Health from Augsburg College in 1971 and was a member of Augsburg's Gamma Phi Omega fraternity, from which he maintained lifelong friendships. He pursued graduate studies at Michigan State University and completed a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics from Washington State University in 1977. He married Susan Restemayer in 1973 and together they had 2 daughters, Nicole and Jennifer. Art's professional career spanned the public and private sector in international and domestic trade, marketing, and business development including Managing Director of the Market Development Division of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Executive Director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, President and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Seattle and King County and Senior V.P. of Northwest Container Services/Waste Connections. He embraced the idea of servant leadership and was a mentor to many during his career, as well as sitting on numerous industry and community boards. Art was a lifelong athlete as evident by his "battle wounds" from multiple joint replacements. In high school and college, Art was a varsity letterman in football, wrestling and track. He loved downhill skiing, racquetball, and hiking with his dog, Gracie. Above all, golf was his true passion, not only for professional networking and supporting charitable causes, but to spend time with family and friends in the outdoors and at the 19th hole. Art loved to read, go to the movies, and enjoy a good meal with a dirty Kettle One martini, glass of Cabernet, and a good cigar, now and then. He was always impeccably dressed and never without his phone. Most importantly, time with his family and friends, particularly his grandsons, was what he valued and desired most. Art is survived by daughters, Nicole Giumarra (Jeffrey) of Bakersfield, CA and Jennifer Prigg (Seth) of Seattle, WA, grandsons, Jackson, Nicholas and Benjamin Giumarra, numerous beloved nephews, nieces, and countless dear friends in Minnesota, California, Florida, Washington and beyond, and former wife Michelle Owens. He is preceded in death by his parents, his two sisters, Marcia Berglund and Susan (Junker) Tracy, brother-in-law Neil Junker, and his faithful canine companion, Gracie. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 7 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bakersfield, CA, with interment later at Evergreen Community Cemetery in Afton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Art's name to Hoffmann Hospice Home in Bakersfield, CA.