| Notes |
- PRAIRIE DU CHIEN - Arnold Thomas Mara, 79, of Prairie du Chien passed away peacefully early Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, with his wife and children at his side at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, where he had been since Tuesday.
Arnold was born June 27, 1930, in Prairie du Chien, to George and Helen (Polodna) Mara. He owned and operated a family construction business for nearly 30 years. He served stateside in the Air Force during the Korean War before marrying Audrey Holzer on Aug. 4, 1956, and starting a family in Prairie du Chien.
Arnold ("Arnie") was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, Christian and craftsman, who put his family, faith and friends above all else. He was a lifetime member of
St. John's Catholic Church and a longtime member of Eagles Club Aerie 1502 in Prairie du Chien. He loved to work hard, fish, watch and attend sporting events, play cards, listen to polka music and laugh. He was humble but proud.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Audrey; four daughters, Mary (Andy) Schultz of McGregor, Iowa, Julie (Terry) Mooney of Waukon, Iowa, and Jeanine Mara and Maureen (Mark) Gerhards, both of Prairie du Chien; five sons, Mike (Debbie), Mark (Lisa), Tom, Jeff (Jill), all of Prairie du Chien, and Jamie (Stacy) of Little Chute, Wis.; a sister, Lucille Woodliff, of Rockford, Ill.; a brother, Eugene, of Oak Creek, Wis.; 30 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Angela, who died at birth; three brothers, Clem, Virgil and Francis; along with a close friend and neighbor, Al Duve.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. John's, with burial in Calvary Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien. Military rites will be accorded by the Prairie du Chien Honor Guard. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 10 a.m. until the time of departure for the church Tuesday, both at Garrity Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien, where there will be a parish Scripture at 8 p.m. Monday. www.garrityfuneralhome.com.
- Arnold Thomas ara
My Grandpa on My Dad's Side
Arnold Mara was born on June 27,1930, in the town of Prairie Du Chien, WI. His
parents were George and Helen Mara. He grew up a lifelong member of the St. john
Nepomucene Catholic Church always putting his faith first in his life. When Arnold got older he
owned and operated a family construction business called State Line Construction for 30 years.
He had nine children, four daughters and five sons. The girls are named Mary, Julie, Jeanine,
and Maureen, and the boys are named Mike, Mark, Tom, Jamie, and Jeff. All but Jamie live
near Prairie Du Chien, Jamie lives in little Chute. Arnold served in the air force during the
Korean War before marrying Audrey Mae Holzer on Aug. 30, 1956. For his 50th wedding
anniversary all the kids rented him and Audrey a limo for the day to a firework show. He was
married for 53 years before he passed on Oct. 24 2009. Arnold was a longtime member of the
Prairie Du Chien Eagles Club, where he met his great friend AI Duve. AI and Arnie went on a lot
of fishing trips together and sometimes with Arnie's kids. AI passed away before Arnold by
about a year and missed their annual Brewers game by only about a month. Arnold was a very
kind and hardworking American who loved his kids and wife very much.
A Story about Arnold
One day Arnold was taking two of his children, Jamie and Maureen, to visit their aunt] who lived
in Iowa. His wife, Audrey, also accompanied them on their journey of about 90 miles. It was
raining and dark on the way there and Audrey was getting worried because the car was starting
to get the jitters just as they entered the highway to Iowa. Sure enough the car nearly broke
down in the middle of the road. Arnold got it off the road before it completely stopped working.
He told the kids, who were frightened, to stay in the car with their mom, and he got out and left
to get help. While Arnold was running in the rainstorm, Audrey was scared that he or she and
the kids would get hit by a car. She prayed the Rosary until he got back. The kids were in the
back seat guessing they probably weren't going to see their aunt that night. After about 90
minutes, Arnold got back to the car with another man and a tow truck. Audrey was so happy.
Arnold had told her that he would get help with the car and he did. They then went home and
had dinner with the rest of the family. The children's visit to stay with their aunt had to wait for
another day.
by
Carson Mara, 2010
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1930 - 2009 (79 years)
