Arnold "Arnie" Ferdinand Foss

Jody Hane2021-12-06T16:51:35-06:00

Name: Arnold "Arnie" Ferdinand Foss
Location of Birth: Lake Bronson, Minnesota
Date of Birth: September 10, 1916
Date of Death: December 18, 1994 (78 years old)
Parents: George Foss and Inga (Norum) Foss
High School and Class: Lake Bronson High School, Lake Bronson, Minnesota
College:
Highest Rank: 1ST SGT (First Sergeant)
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: 1942
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge: 1946
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
Arnie served in the United States Army during World War II from 1942 until 1946 in the European Theatre of Operations as chief of the gun section in the Field Artillery of the 70th Division.

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Arnie attended school in Hallock, Minnesota and graduated from Lake Bronson High School in Lake Bronson, Minnesota.

Prior to entering the Armed Forces, Arnie worked as a hot press operator in a defense plant in Chicago, Illinois.

Following his discharge, Arnie worked on construction in Minnesota.

In 1948, Arnie left for Alaska where he worked on the first blacktop highway from Anchorage to Palmer.

He returned to Hallock in 1950, when he married Lenore Homstad on December, 20, 1950.

In the spring of 1951, they returned to Alaska where he worked as blacktop foreman on the international airport at Anchorage.

In November, 1952, he returned to Minnesota and in the spring of 1953, began employment for Pickands Mather Mining Company on the Tioga Mine site at Grand Rapids, Minnesota as a heavy equipment operator. He worked for Pickands Mather for 27 years, 23 of which he was pit foreman. He also worked at West Hill, Danube, and later transferred to Hibbing Taconite Company in 1974. Arnie retired from Hibbing Taconite Company in May, 1980 as lead foreman. While at Tioga and West Hill mines, he served as president of the Steelworkers Local and also their credit union.

Arnie had been a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church since 1953 and was a charter member of the Sons of Norway. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1720 and Military Order of Cooties 44 of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Arnie served as Veterans of Foreign Wars commander in Grand Rapids from 1983 until 1984. He was also a member of American Legion Post 60 of Grand Rapids.

Preceded in death by his parents, George and Inga Foss and two brothers, Ellsworth and Floyd; Arnie is survived by his wife Lenore; two daughters, Linda Foss-Enninful and Barbara Rutledge; two sons, Curtis and Craig; two sisters, Florence Ristad and Helga Gillie; one brother, Victor; and four grandchildren.

Arnie died at his home and is buried in Itasca Calvary Cemetery at Grand Rapids, Minnesota. (Plot I-G-23-2-0)

Tribal Affiliation(s):