George J. Arndt of Saginaw, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at Covenant Cooper Hospital following a short illness, at the age of 97. He was born June 18, 1912 in Saginaw, Michigan to the late August and Helen Arndt.

George is survived by his son Tom Arndt (Jan) of Grosse Pointe, MI, his daughter Marilyn Alsip (David) of Midwest City, OK, his sister Rose Hetzner (Pete) of Saginaw, MI, and by nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife and the mother of his children, Thelma Garrett Arndt in 1961, by his wife, Violet Reitler Arndt in 1989, and by his wife, Esther Gross Arndt in 2002. He was also preceded in death by his son, Bob Arndt, and by his siblings Norm Arndt, Mary Smejkal, Arlene Lehr, and Mildred Strunk.

Until his retirement in the late 1970's, George worked most of his adult life in the lumber

industry, first with Furstenberg Bros. and then with Weber Lumber. In his younger years, his favorite activities were woodworking and carpentry, gardening and bowling. In his later years, George’s favorite pastimes included spending time with his many friends at his home in McBrite Manor where he enjoyed his daily exercise class, card games, bingo and the many other events and activities sponsored by McBrite. George was a member of Countryside Trinity Church.

One of George’s proudest moments was a day in the 1945 when he jumped a fence at the Saginaw Zoo and saved a zoo keeper from being gored to death on the sharp horns of a rampaging bull elk. He also had many other proud moments, mostly centered around his family for whom he worked tirelessly and sacrificially to ensure they had a good life. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

FUNERAL: George’s funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 14, 2010 at Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Rd. (off State). Rev. Kenneth Parker will officiate. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

VISITATION: Friends may call at the Deisler Funeral Home on Sunday, June 13, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

MEMORIALS: Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Countryside Trinity Church or McBrite Manor. Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with the family at the funeral home or through www.deislerfuneralhome.com.