Obituary for Verner Leroy Arnestad

Verner Leroy Arnestad passed away peacefully on September 24, 2017 at Birchview Nursing Home, Birch Hills, Sk. He was born June 7, 1917 on the farm near the Norwegian community of Hagen. He is the eldest son of Peter and Anne Arnestad’s five children: Arnold, Lenore, Erna and Freda. Verner went to Bastnes School and began farming after eight grades. World War II disrupted his ball playing and farming when he served as Lance Brigadier in the heavy artillery. Verner met Norma Gjesdal after three and a half years in the Canadian Army. They were married on November 3, 1947 and then Louise and Robert were born. They farmed until 1954 when they were hailed out 100% and moved to New Westminster where Verner did carpentry work for the winter. The following two winters he spent working for the CNR out of Prince Albert. The farm welcomed him back and farming went about as usual and then Joan and Peter were born. Travel, family, fishing, baseball, and hard work were his passions. He played first base for the Hagen baseball team and later coached baseball. He was also an active member at Saron Lutheran Church. Verner was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and welcomed relatives from Norway at the Arnestad reunion in 2014. At that time, at the age of 97, he danced with Norma and enjoyed a dance with 5 of his granddaughters at their Grade 12 graduations. Verner was predeceased by his parents: Anne and Peter; siblings: Arnold, Erna and Freda; and his wife, Norma, of almost 70 years. He is survived by his children: Louise (Stewart) Adams, Robert (Terry) Arnestad, Joan (John) Ondrusek and Peter (Kathy) Arnestad; as well as his grandchildren: Steven (Shae) Adams, Amy (Phil) Cunningham, Brent (Crystal) Adams, Vanessa Arnestad, Tenille (Blake) Johnson, Chelsea Arnestad, Adams & Spencer Ondrusek, Courtney, Madison and Sawyer Arnestad and 9 great-grandchildren. The Funeral Service and Interment will be held at Saron Lutheran Church, Hagen, SK, on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. with lunch to follow. Memorial Donations in lieu of flowers may be given to Kinasao Lutheran Bible Camp, Box 327, Christopher Lake, SK, S0J 0N0. Arrangements in care of MacKenzie Chapel & Crematorium. Brian and Bev Stobbs, Tracy-Lynn Switzer, Funeral Directors. Condolences may be left for the family at www.MacKenzieChapel.ca 306.763.8488