Verne Dale Arndt, 81, of Hustler, Wis., passed away suddenly Saturday June 28, 2014.

Verne was born Oct. 12, 1932, on the family farm in the town of Wellington, Monroe County, Wis., to Hugo and Clara (Radke) Arndt. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wilton. He was a 1950 graduate of Wilton High School. Verne served in the United States Air Force from 1952-1956. On Sept. 1, 1956, he was united in marriage to Marie Vaningan in Hillsboro.

In November 1961, Verne and his family moved to Hustler, where he became the butter-maker at the Hustler Co-op Creamery. Verne retired from the Hustler Co-op Creamery in October 1994. He also was self-employed in the refrigeration repair business and worked for the Village of Hustler. He has been a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he was a council member several times, plus he was a member of Vieth-Paeth American Legion Post 508 in Wilton, where he served as a past commander.

Verne is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marie, and four children, Albert of Milltown, Wis., Linda (John) Nebelsiek of Chippewa Falls, Wis., and Thomas (Terry) and Richard, both of Hustler; three granddaughters, Nancy Lee (Jason Steele) Arndt of West Salem, Ashley (Brandon) Lucas of Green Bay and Erin Arndt of Hustler; and three great-grandsons and one expected in September, as well as two step-grandchildren, Josh (Donna) Nebelsiek and Jackie (Joe) Peters, and three step-great-grandchildren.

He is further survived by his siblings, Bernard (Betty) of Wilton, Marty (Julleta) of Wilton, Lois (Gordon) O’Rourke of Wilton, Ethel (Don) Dechant of Sparta, Hugo (Jack) (Mary Ann) of Wilton, Arlis (Larry) Ballwahn of Wilton, and Leonard (Dixie) of Wilton; his sisters-in-law, Janice (Vere) Prell of Tomah and Judy Arndt of Wilton; and his aunt, Elna Arndt of Wilton. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugo and Clara Arndt; his father- and mother-in-law, Albert and Ella Vaningan; his brothers, James and Carl; and his godson, Mark O’Rourke

Funeral services were at Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Main St. in Hustler, on Wednesday, July 2. Military honors were conducted at the church after the service. The Hare Funeral Home in New Lisbon assisted the family with service. Online condolences are available at www.harefuneralhome.com.