Col. Arthur “Dancing Bear” R. Hedlund Jr, Ret., 66 of Canyon Lake, Texas; a father, son, husband, Papa, uncle, friend, and soulmate, passed away peacefully at home April 12th 2011 in his loving wife’s presence, Clarissa “Soni” Christensen, during his courageous battle with recurrent cancer.
Art is survived by his mother Eleanor “Babcia” Mikoloski Hedlund, his wife Clarissa “Soni” Christensen, his brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Kathy Hedlund, his brother Bruce Hedlund, his sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth and Real Poirier, mother of his children Nancy Sisco Carothers, his son and daughter-in-law Jason and Tara Hedlund, his daughter and son-in-law Kristin and Michael Grasso, his daughter Kara Hedlund, his stepson Terry Anderton, his stepdaughter Chelsi Christensen, and his much beloved grandchildren Hanna Anderton, Camden Anderton, Bella Grasso, Taylor Anderton, Gia Grasso, and Madelynn Dinan.
Born in Worcester, Ma, the son of Eleanor “Babcia” Mikoloski Hedlund and the late Arthur R. Hedlund, Sr. Art was raised in Sturbridge, Mass by his loving parents and was a graduate of Tantasqua Regional High School. He graduated from Marietta College with a B.S. in Business Administration. As Maj. Hedlund in the USAF, Art attained a Masters in Personnel Management from Air Command and Staff College at Troy State University.
Many people helped shaped the direction Art's life took but paramount were his dad with his strong work ethic, his honesty, and commitment to community and his mom, always leading by example with her strong faith based and respectful approach to life.
Art was athletic, intelligent, fun loving, handsome yet humble and was a natural leader. He was very outgoing and loved to talk about anything with anyone and as a result his circle of friends never stopped growing.
As a young man he exhibited a love of fast cars, so not many were surprised when after college and in the middle of the Vietnam War he joined the Air Force to be become a fighter pilot. He served two tours in Vietnam and flew over 168 missions from Phu Cat Airbase. His military career spanned 27 years in service to the USAF and included service as Lt. Col Hedlund, Squadron Commander of the 510th A-10 Fighter Squadron, aka ‘The Bentwater Buzzards”. Under his command, the 510th was recognized as “The Best Fighter Squadron in Europe”. Lt. Col. Hedlund was promoted to Col. Hedlund “below the zone”, and as Col. Hedlund, Art served as Director of TAC Quality Control/Evaluation for NATO. He was consistently recognized for his tact and diplomacy in this politically sensitive position, mastering the art of “the meet and greet”. In 1989, Col. Hedlund would don the flight suit and helmet again as he was called to RAF Alconbury and served as the Director of Operations, where he safely executed a demanding 16,000 hour annual flying program and coordinated a flawless execution of operations in support of Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He finished is Air Force career as Air Force Advisor to the largest military installation in the free world, Ft. Hood, Texas and Commander of 3rd Air Support, our largest Air Support Group.
During his extensive career, Art was a tremendous aviator, distinguished by so many awards, medals, honors, and early promotions. As a pilot Art never forgot the airmen and their laboring hours that put him up there. The consideration of those men and their families was always with him. Outstanding among his decorations were; The Distinguished Flying Cross with two Devices, Legion of Merit, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Combat Readiness Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished-Presidential Unit Citation, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Device.
Upon retiring from the USAF, Art traded in the horizontal wings of his beloved fighter jets, for the vertical wings of his sailboat, On Eagles Wings. His love of sailing was spent with his wife Soni, exploring the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the familiar Northeast. His friends, family and grandchildren were always paramount to his life, and his thirst and excitement for fun and adventure was shared with them on every occasion. Art split his time between caring for his parents in the Northeast and guiding and enriching his children’s lives in Texas. The Lord’s guiding hand brought Art and Soni to Canyon Lake, Texas, and with the onset of his recurrent cancer, was introduced to the shining example of care and compassion, MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. The team from MD Anderson proved to be one of his staunchest allies during his fight.
His love, guidance, support, strength, friendship, faith, and energy will be missed, but never forgotten by all who were privileged to have had Art in their lives.
A viewing and visitation for Art will be held on Sunday, April 17th, starting at five PM, with a Rosary starting at seven pm, located in the Zoeller Funeral Home, 615 Landa Street, New Braunfels, TX 78130 (830-625-2349). Services will be held in Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 386 N. Castle Ave., New Braunfels, TX, starting at approximately eleven AM Monday morning, April 18th. A burial service will be held in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C., with Full Military Honors.
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