Arthur Noehring

Arthur Noehring, 93, passed away on Monday, August 13th, 2018 in Brainerd, Minnesota, having fought one great war in the Pacific and another with cancer. Born July 20th, 1925 in St. Cloud, Minnesota, this beloved father of six, grandfather of eighteen, and great-grandfather of sixteen leaves a legacy of love in his wake.

At eighteen, he left the family home, made his way to New York City, and briefly served in the Merchant Marines before joining the United States Army Air Forces and deploying to the Pacific Campaign during World War II. Upon his return, he built a cabin from boxcar wood on Leech Lake that would become the heart of the family for generations, went to college at St. John’s University, and attended a fateful Johnny football game with Jane Gunderson, whom he married in Mahtomedi, MN on July 25th, 1953.

In 1954, the couple welcomed their first child, and the young family lived in St. Paul while Art worked during the day, completed a degree at the William Mitchell College of Law at night, and passed the bar examination. He accepted a position at State Farm Insurance, and the growing family moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota, to St. Louis, Missouri, and back to White Bear Lake, Minnesota, before settling in Brainerd, Minnesota in 1973. His retirement in 1990 ushered in an era of golf, fishing, cigars, and timeless porch conversations with his children and grandchildren. He spent winters in Sun City, Arizona, only minutes away from his brother, David, and the two swapped jokes, barbs, and dinners almost daily.

Jane passed on February 26th, 2002, after her own battle with cancer. Art continued to travel between Minnesota and Arizona, alternating between time spent with his kids and grandkids (and golfing) up north, and time with his brothers and the steady stream of visiting family members who traveled to escape the cold winters (and more golfing!) down south. He had a special talent for connecting with his adoring grandchildren, and knew all of his great-grandchildren by name.

It was not long after an epic ninetieth birthday party that Art’s health began to fail. One week before his passing, Art was able to spend a day at the cabin, talking with his kids, grandkids, and surrounded by the sounds of his great-grandchildren fishing and playing.

Preceded in death by his wife of forty-eight years, Jane Noehring (née Gunderson), and his parents, Edward and Eleanor (née Gross) Noehring, Art is survived by three daughters: Mary Jane (Stephen) Santele of Plymouth, MN; Patricia (Denis) Montplaisir of Bismarck, ND; and Joan (David) Duffy of Chisago City, MN; three sons: Michael (Mary Kay) Noehring of Lakeville, MN; John (Jill) Noehring of Bemidji, MN; and James Noehring of Brainerd, MN; eighteen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister: Mary Anne Boos; and two brothers: Jerome Noehring and David Noehring. His close companion, Ruth Murray, also mourns his loss.

Visitation will be from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, Minnesota. Visitation will continue from 10-11 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Brainerd.