Arnold Westerman

Arnold G. Westerman, age 100, passed away on July 29, 2008. Arnold was born, July 17, 1908, in Waukegan, IL, the son of Wilhelm and Bertha (Rathmann) Westermann. As a child, he remembered the Besley Brewing Company still in operation and attended the grand opening of the new concrete Genesee Street bridge over the Waukegan River with his mother in the early 1910s. His family left Waukegan after purchasing a farm in Benton Township in 1911 where he lived the rest of his life. In his early years on the farm, he helped his mother make egg delivery runs to Waukegan businesses and residents by horse and buggy. During the 1930s, he was employed as a knitter at the Allen Hosiery Mill in Kenosha, WI. Prior to World War II, Arnold worked for a short time at a knitting company in Belden, MI. In 1942, he received his draft notice and served in the United States Army at the Panama Canal. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he gained employment at the Rawling Hosiery Mill in Des Moines, IA, again as a knitter. This is where he met Clara Mathes, his future wife. They were married on April 15, 1946 in Des Moines. Following their marriage, they moved to the family farm in Benton Township where his widowed father was living. In 1946, Arnold began employment at American Motors in Kenosha, WI; and worked there until his retirement in 1973. In addition to working at American Motors, Arnold farmed his land along with renting other nearby farms. He continued farming until 1976. Arnold enjoyed maintaining the grounds and a large apple orchard. Until last year, at the age of 99, he could still be seen mowing the grass on his new riding lawn mower. Since his youth, he was a big fan of the Chicago White Sox, and was thrilled to see two World Series victories in his lifetime-1917 and 2005. Arnold is survived by his son, Alfred Westerman; and daughter-in-law, Diana Dretske of Benton Township; and four grandchildren, Susan Shelton, Marc Chelap, Matthew Chelap and Michelle Chelap. He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara; and step-daughter, Naomi Balch Chelap. A Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, August 5, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at Congdon Funeral Home, Sheridan Rd., Zion, with Rev. Donald L. Hackbarth of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Pleasant Prairie, Wl, officiating. Interment will follow at Oakdale Cemetery, Newport Township. Friends may greet the family on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4311 104th St., Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158