Alan Harold Arnesen

Alan Harold Arnesen passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, March 4, 2022, from complications related to congestive heart failure. Alan’s large family was always central to his life. He is survived by his second wife, Susan Arnesen; his children Nate (Amy) Arnesen, Amy (Mike) Losee, Andrea (Jon) Gordhamer, Bonnie (Tom) Ford, Adam (Darlyn) Arnesen, John (Tara) Arnesen; his step-children, Matt “Mudd” (Bebe) Baron and Tracey (Ryan) Haun; 33 grandchildren; and one great grandchild. He is also survived by his brother Doug (Carol) Arnesen, and his sisters Judy Jensen and Ingrid (Hy) Hudson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Aksel Arnesen and Ruby Berg; his first wife, Echo Pryor Arnesen; his sisters Ileane (Richard) Deegan and Karen (Michael) Pomeroy; and his grandson Erik Gordhamer.

Alan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on January 8, 1946, the fifth of Ruby and Aksel Arnesen’s six children. As a child, he spent his summers exploring Parley’s Creek, fishing, catching horned toads, and perfecting his paper airplanes. After graduating from Granger High School in 1964, he spent 2.5 years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Norway from 1965-1968. Upon his return, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as an airplane mechanic and completed a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969.

Shortly before he left for Vietnam, he began courting his first sweetheart, Echo Pryor. They corresponded while he was gone and got engaged by letter. He bought her engagement ring while he was on leave in Hong Kong and mailed it home to her. They married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 30, 1970, and immediately moved to Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington, where their first child was born and where he finished his 3 years of military service. Alan and Echo then moved back to Utah, where five more children quickly joined the family. They taught their children to work hard and be good missionaries.

Alan enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked, which came in handy during the early years of their marriage as he learned, by trial and error, how to fix almost anything. Later on, he often helped his children fix cars and appliances, repair plumbing, and complete remodeling projects. He always gave generously of his time and resources to help his children and those in need.

Alan loved learning and attended several universities throughout Utah in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Perhaps even more important to him was his gospel scholarship. He devoured books on religious topics, graduated from the Institute of Religion, and served faithfully in the Church throughout his life—as a youth Sunday school teacher, gospel doctrine instructor, ward mission leader, and as a counselor in the bishopric. He always got emotional when sharing his testimony of Jesus Christ.

Alan worked briefly at Interstate Brick before taking a job as a depot maintenance mechanic at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah. He quickly moved on to materials management, where he stayed for about 9 years. In 1988, Alan took a job at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio. In his job with the Logistics Command, he managed budgets and appropriations for aircraft and missile spare parts for 19 years before retiring in 2007.

After Echo’s passing in 2006, Alan married longtime friend and neighbor, Susan Lichliter, on April 25, 2007. Together they returned to Norway as senior missionaries, where they managed the mission office from 2008-2010.

Despite Alan’s gruff exterior, he was really a big teddy bear. He loved hosting family get-togethers and giving gifts to express his affection. Alan’s hobbies included playing chess and collecting chess sets, architecture, gardening, cooking, and baking. Friends and neighbors often requested his famous chocolate chip cookies and sourdough bread for church events.

Visitation and funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3072 Shakertown Road, Beavercreek, Ohio 45434. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. EST. Graveside services will follow at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, 8200 W National Rd., New Carlisle, OH 45344.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a generous donation to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

To view Alan's services at 11:00 am, please go to the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/94430266490?pwd=SW53bG1aZ1JzVFZXYjZGRG1yN0pWQT09