Arthur James Erickson, 99

Memorial services for Arthur Erickson, of Glenwood, MN, formerly of Starbuck, MN, will be held on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Indherred Lutheran Church, rural Starbuck, MN, with Reverend Dr. Joel Rolf officiating.  Visitation will be on Sunday, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.  Burial will be in the church cemetery. 

Arthur James Erickson, son of Arnold and Hannah (Rosten) Erickson, was born November 9, 1919 in Minnewaska Township in Pope County, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed by Rev. G.O. Forde at Indherred Lutheran Church. Art grew up on the family farm and attended Country School District #12. Following his schooling, he continued to work on the farm. At the age of 21, he was drafted by the United States Army, 99^th Infantry, serving in the European Theater of World War II from 1941 to 1945. Following his discharge, Art returned to Starbuck, where he began working at the Starbuck Locker Plant under the G.I. Bill. In 1946, he met Helen Shauer at the Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood. They were married on September 12, 1948 at Land’s Lutheran Church in Hoffman. Following their marriage, they moved to Annandale for a short time before returning to Starbuck, where Art took over managing the Starbuck Locker for the next 30 years, retiring in 1983. For the next 17 years, Art worked as a self-employed painter. At the age of 85, Art worked as a janitor at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck. When Helen passed away on December 11, 2000, Art moved to Appleton, where he worked at the Meat Center with his son, Todd. At the age of 94, Art returned to the Starbuck area and later became a resident of the Glenwood Retirement Village, where he continued to live until the time of his death.

Art was a lifelong member of the V.F.W. in Starbuck and was a founding member of the Starbuck Ambulance. Most of all Art enjoyed spending time with his family.

Arthur died on Monday, September 9, 2019 at the Glenwood Retirement Village. He reached the age of 99 years, 10 months.

He is survived by his two children: Karla (Donald) Wirtz of Marshall and Steven (JeNean) Erickson of New Prague; six grandchildren: Jason (Jodi) Wirtz of Sioux Falls, SD, Aaron (Tina) Wirtz of Waseca, Megan (Paul) Giesen of New Prague, Brendan Erickson of Chicago, IL, Nathan (Sarah) Erickson of Willmar and Amanda (Clayton) Horn of St. Cloud; nine great-grandchildren: Timothy and Anthony Wirtz of Sioux Falls, SD, Brody and Maxwell Wirtz of Waseca, Emily and Ben Giesen of New Prague, Camden and Conor Arthur Horn of St. Cloud and Nolan Michael Erickson of Willmar; one sister-in-law: Ada Erickson of Starbuck and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife: Helen; two sons: Michael and Todd Erickson; one grandson: Nolan Erickson; his parents; three brothers: Leonard, Harry and Ellsworth Erickson; two sisters: Ida and Gladys and several in-laws.

Starbuck Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences to the family please visit www.starbuckfh.com