Arnold Joseph Cekalla (Arnie) was born on July 23, 1942, in a farmhouse in Brockway Township, Stearns County. Arnie was the fourth child out of nine born to Lucille Broda and Raymond Cekalla. He was raised on a farm on the banks of the Mississippi near North Prairie. Here he attended school in a one-room schoolhouse in North Prairie thru grade school and attended high school in Royalton, until he enlisted in the United States Army. While in the Army he spent time in Texas and in Hawaii doing primary long-range shooting, and he became active in competition shooting. While he was overseas for the Vietnam War, 1961-1963, he became an English teacher & interpreter in Thailand & Laos.

On Oct. 12, 1968, he was united in marriage to Alice Laniel at Holy Cross Catholic Church in North Prairie. To this union five children were born: Alisa, Aaron, Andra, Allan and Arnie Jr. In 1971 they moved to Hinckley, where they raised their children and spent their life together.

Arnie would often joke that in his early career days he had "more W2's than months in the year." He then landed a job at Minneapolis Moline, and in 1970, he started his remarkable career with Johnson Brothers as a salesman. He dedicated 54 years at Johnson Brothers and retired in 2024 at the age of 81.

He had many favorite pastimes. He loved going up to Antler Lodge over the fishing opener where he would spend time with his family and friends. He made frequent trips to the Granite House where he would hunt, play cards or just take a nap. Family meant everything to him. He treasured time spent with loved ones – playing pool and softball with his sons, sharing laughs with his daughters and making memories with his ten grandchildren. He was known for his sharp, dry sense of humor, his Lincoln Continental, his love of pull tabs and his legendary ability to smoke a cigar nearly to the end without singeing his mustache. Softball played a significant role in his life. He served as president of both the Hinckley Softball Association and the North Pine Oldtimers Softball League. He was instrumental in organizing numerous local tournaments, including the well-known Korn & Klover Softball Tournament in Hinckley. Arnie also founded the Fishbowl team, Arnie's Outlaws, along with several other teams over the years. In addition to his contributions to softball, he dedicated 16 years to serving on the City Council.

He loved feeding the birds, he even made friends with a grouse that would follow him around and sit on his 4-wheeler. He was a very thoughtful man with a welcoming personality; he made a point to call family and friends just to check in, and he was known to invite people over for Thanksgiving or Christmas if they had nowhere to go for the holidays. Arnie was a member of St Patrick's Catholic Church Knights of Columbus, he belonged to the Beroun American Legion and served as chaplain, he was also a member of the VFW in Little Falls. Arnie was also the self-appointed president of the "7-23 Club." If you shared his July 23 birthday, you were automatically inducted – and you could always expect a birthday card from him right on time.

Arnie is survived by his loving wife of (56) years, Alice of Hinckley. Children: Alisa (John) Rossini of Harris, Aaron Cekalla (Kimberly) of Hinckley, Andra Cekalla (Robert) of Anoka, Allan (Lisa) Cekalla of Sturgeon Lake, Arnie (Nikki) Cekalla of Sandstone, and Grandchildren: Isabella (Isaac) Lenzen, Christina Rossini, John Paul Rossini, Gemma (Jacob) Finch, Benedict Rossini, Paulina Rossini, Celia Cekalla, Vincent Cekalla, Brooke Cekalla and Ciara Cekalla. Siblings: Marv, LeRoy (Hettianne), Dennis, Ronnie (Jayne), Suzanne along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Lloyd, brother Duane, sister Betty Jean Maurer and sisters-in-law Bernie, Sandy and Nancy.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at St Patrick's Church in Hinckley, Minn., with Fr Kristoffer McKusky officiating for Arnold J. Cekalla, age 83, 1 month and 14 days, who passed away on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at his home in Hinckley. He will be interred at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to noon, one hour prior to the church service.

May his memory be blessed by God.

Arrangements by Methven Funeral and Cremation Services, Tatting Methven Chapel, Hinckley, Minnesota www.methvenfuneralhome.com