Arne Victor Puskala
Arne Victor Puskala, 90, Hibbing, died Wednesday, July 22, 2015, in the Twin Cities after a valiant, but unsuccessful fight against cancer. He was born in Hibbing on March 14, 1925, to Victor and Emma Puskala. During World War II, Arne proudly served as a member of the Timberwolves, 104
th
Infantry in Europe, seeing combat from Belgium to the Russian Front. After the war, he returned to Hibbing where he married the love of his life, Shirley Ann “Shan” Degnan, celebrating 64 years of marriage. Arne was employed by US Steel for 44 years as a surveyor, working at the Sherman, Hull Rust, Mahoning, and Minntac locations. Arne was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Parish and enjoyed assisting with the Food Shelf.
Arne was preceded in death by his wife, Shan and a grandson Eric Puskala, and is survived by five children: Martin Puskala of Coon Rapids, MN, David (Rosalyn) Puskala of White Bear Lake, MN, Mary (Miles) Kennedy of Coon Rapids, MN, Patrick Puskala of St. Paul, MN and Anne (Don ) Weas of Shorewood, MN; 9 grandchildren: Matthew, Sarah, Margaret, Henry, Mallory, Katrina, Mikayla, Andrew, and Renna; 4 great-grandchildren: Adam, Eli, Elliott, and Isaac; former daughter-in-law, Vyla Carlson. Arne will be fondly remembered by sister-in-law Renna Webster, brother-in law Patrick (Jane) Degnan, and numerous nieces and nephews-who dearly loved their Uncle Arne.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 26, 2015, at Dougherty Funeral Home from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, with wake prayers at 7 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 27, 2015 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Hibbing. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Hibbing Food Shelf, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1221,
www.vfw.org/Contribute/
or to donor’s preference. Arrangements are with Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing. The family is grateful to Dr Noel Laudi and his exceptional staff at Minnesota Oncology and to Interim Home Health Care and Hospice Services for their awesome and dedicated staff who lovingly cared for Arne.
