ARNOLD F. W DUNEKACKE
1930-2023
Arnold Frederick Wilhelm Dunekacke, 93 years old of Johnson, Nebraska, passed away October 12, 2023 at his home. He was born to Dietrich and Sophia (Mahlstadt) Dunekacke on May 7, 1930 on the C. D. Hahn farm west of Johnson where his parents lived. He was the seventh child born to this union and the only one born in America after the family came from Germany and moved to the Johnson area in 1923.
He started his education at a country school ¾ mile from his first home. When he was 11 years old, Dick and Sophia bought a farm four miles southwest of Johnson where Arnold lived the rest of his life. After moving Arnold went to a country school a mile west of their farm. He walked to school most of the time. Arnold graduated from Johnson High School in May, 1947. After graduating, he helped his father farm until his marriage.
He was united in marriage to Imogene Christine Fossenbarger on May 4, 1958 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Talmage, Nebraska. This union was blessed with two children, Jane Marie and John Frederick.
Arnold and Imogene made their living on the family homestead raising cattle, hogs, chickens, corn, wheat, oats, soybeans and hay until retiring in 2011. They worked together in daily farm activities and also spent time planting flowers and trees, gardening and harvesting fruit from their orchard. Arnold enjoyed mowing the yard as long as his health allowed, playing with his cat, “Tiger” telling jokes and having visits from family and friends. He was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Johnson, Nebraska, where he was baptized June 8, 1930 by Rev. H. Dahlke and confirmed April 2, 1944 by Rev. F. K. Kumpf.
He passed away October 12, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family, at the earthly age of 93 years, after dealing with diabetes for 27 years.
Arnold is survived by his wife Imogene of Johnson, daughter Jane (Jim) Mc-Millen of Blue Springs, MO and son John Dunekacke of Pascagoula, MS, granddaughter, Kristen McMillen (Omar) Abdelgewad of Indian Trail, N.C., grandson Corey McMillen (Bethany) of Lee’s Summit, MO, thirteen nieces, nephews, many great-nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law, Katherine Swanson and Jane Fossenbarger, many friends and his friendly cat, Tiger.
Arnold was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Anna (Dean) Philpott, Sophia (Ernest) Hitzeman, Marie (Otto) Rohrs and Dora (Gieko) Rieken and brothers Fred (Laura) Dunekacke and Henry (Hazel) Dunekacke.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at the Zion Lutheran Church, north of Johnson, Nebraska with Pastor Paul Lillenas officiating. Susie Hogrefe, pianist, accompanied congregational hymns, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”, “Softly And Tenderly” and “Abide With Me.” Pallbearers were Corey McMillen, John Rohrs, Matt Walter, Joel Dunekacke, Bill Hitzeman, Ken Rieken, Jeff Fossenbarger and Randall Rippe. Interment was in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Johnson, Nebraska. Memorials may go to the family’s choice. Services were entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, Tecumseh, Nebraska.