Arnold C. Kiefer

Arnold C. Kiefer was a loving family man and an all around great guy. He was faithful in his work and strong in his faith. With his consideration of others and energy for living, Arn was simply a joy to be around. In addition to being a wonderful father and grandfather, Arn was best friends with his wife. The life they shared and warmth they conveyed was a delight to all who had the privilege of knowing them.

Arnolds story began as the United States was recovering from World War I and experiencing growth in industry and employment. He came of age during the Great Depression and, like others his age, met the challenge of a second world war that earned them the distinction of being called The Greatest Generation.

Born April 6, 1922 in Adams County, Indiana, Arnold was the first son of Henry and Clara (Koenemann) Kiefer. The family moved from the Preble area in Adams County to the family farm in Wells County when Arn was a young boy. Tragedy struck the family in March of 1930 when his father passed away at the age of 34. Henry had been shoveling snow from the roads when he caught plural pneumonia and died after a week of becoming ill. His wife Clara was left with their seven children: 11 year old Martha, 8 year old Arn, 6 year old twins, Wilbert and Gilbert, 4 year old Elfert Al and 2 year old Robert. Pregnant at the time, Clara gave birth to Normen a month later and with the resilience of faith and hard work, she was able to keep the family together.

Being the oldest son, Arn went to work on a family farm at age nine and turned over the money he earned to his mother. The family made it through the depression years and Arn made it through Friedheim Lutheran School in Adams County. His mother couldnt be more proud than to see Arn confirmed in the Lutheran faith in 1936 (1 of 16 catechumens) and graduating as Valedictorian from Ossian High School in Wells County in 1940. He accomplished all this at the same time that he worked as a hired farm hand. His perseverance could be seen as a tribute to his similarly determined mother.

Arns teachers encouraged him to go on to college, but the expense was too much for the family to consider, so he went to work at General Electric and later entered their Tool and Die Making Apprentice Program. Then in April of 1943, he enlisted in US Navy as America became involved in the war effort in Europe. He was sent to Lido Beach on Long Island and assigned to the USS Achernar. From Long Island, the troops departed for Omaha Beach in France and used small boats to go ashore while the USS Achernar was used as a communication base. Arn remained on board as a machinist in the engine division and was in charge of keeping the ships steam engines running, no matter the conditions. He also served in the harness of a 50mm gun to help defend the ship.

On D-Day, Arn was at Normandy, France and after the initial battle of June 6, 1944, the USS Achernar was used to transport the wounded to Plymouth, England. They eventually sailed back to the US and moved their operations to the Pacific Theater, sailing through the Panama Canal to make their way to Hawaii. After loading up military supplies, including airport equipment and troops, they continued west toward Leyte in the Philippines. They were part of the attack force during the invasion of Okinawa, Japan when the USS Achernar was hit by suicide bomber planes. The damage was extensive, but Arn was fortunate to be on the opposite end of the ship at the time. He helped with emergency repairs before the ship sailed to Ryukyu Islands for permanent repairs. They sailed back to Okinawa, where they unloaded troops and airport supplies in support of 209 air raids. With the ship needing more repairs, the USS Achernar sailed back to Hawaii and then to San Francisco, but once repairs were completed, they loaded equipment for the invasion of Japan that ultimately led to the end of WWII. Amazingly, through it all, Arns faith became stronger.

After being honorably discharged for a second time in April of 1946, Arn came home and went back to work at GE. Remembering all the encouragement he had received when he left high school, Arn decided to take college classes at Indiana University while working. It was in a psychology class that a young woman caught his eye. To get Sheila D. Kissinger to agree to a date, Arn had to out psych her. Whatever he did worked because she agreed, and the two went to a supper club in Auburn. The experience was new to Sheila, and she was further treated to a side of Arn that she had not seen before. Still, it would be some time after they both moved from the Ft. Wayne campus to Bloomington that Arn finally won Sheilas love. Then it was after his graduation from the Kelley School of Business in 1957 that she agreed to marry him. Several years after they first met, Arn and Sheila made their vows on August 30, 1958 at her familys church, Silver Lake United Brethren. Their lives were further blessed by the births of three children: Doug, Mark and Mary Beth.

After 19 years with GE, Arn went to work for Fruehauf as a mechanical engineer until retirement. Then he worked part time at Schafer Precision. Over the years, he was a member of the GE Apprentice Alumni, Orchard Ridge Country Club, Trinity English Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Choral Society. It was common knowledge that Arn loved his church and loved to sing.

Sheila and Arn had the pleasure of singing in the church choir and they also traveled together. They were able to visit Europe twice. On one of the two trips, they toured seven countries, but Arn most enjoyed Germany and the British Isles. They also made it to Hawaii, a much better experience for Arn than the first time he had been to the island and a great trip for the two of them!

At home, Arn spent leisure time in his garden where he was particularly fond of growing tea roses. He bowled and golfed in the GE league, and when he became a member of Orchard Ridge Country Club, he and his family went swimming there and took part in numerous other activities. Arn played Bridgesometimes as often as three times a weekand he was very competitive at Pinochle, Solo and Euchre.

Throughout their married life, Arn and Sheila were inseparable, but they also shared in all the household responsibilities. A recent photo of Arn shows him vacuuming the carpet from a chair since he could no longer stand without a walker.

The familys life changed forever at 8:10 p.m. on Friday evening of May 1, 2015. Arn passed away at Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.

Arnold C. Kiefer, 93, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Sheila Kiefer; daughter, Mary Beth (Taylor) Sword of Chesapeake, Virginia; sons, Douglas Kiefer O.D. of Fort Collins, Colorado and Attorney Mark (Heather Gerber) Kiefer of Fort Wayne; and grandchildren, Allison and Jenna Kiefer, Maren and Peter Sword and Kennedy and Hadley Gerber. He was preceded in death by his father and mother on March 4, 1930 and August 30, 1980, respectively; sister, Martha Kiefer; and brothers, Al, Gilbert, Wilbert, Robert and Norm Kiefer.

Funeral service is 1 p.m. Thursday, May 7, 2015 at Trinity English Lutheran Church, 450 W. Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. The Rev. Kathleen Haller officiating. Calling also from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will follow service at Covington Memorial Gardens with military honors being rendered by the US Navy and the American Legion, Post 241. Memorial gifts may be given in his memory to Trinity English Lutheran Church towards their music department or Worship for Shut-Ins. Arrangements by DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City.