Arnold G. Dahlen

Friday, May 26, 2017 5:14 pm

Arnold G. Dahlen, 87, of Decorah, passed away Thursday, May 25, 2017, at Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, with Rev. Stacey Nalean – Carlson officiating. Burial was in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah, with full military honors by Decorah’s veterans and military organizations, and U.S. Army personnel. Visitation were from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 26, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and Saturday one hour before the service at the church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com. Casket bearers were grandsons, Mitchell Dahlen, Allen Dahlen, Aaron Dahlen, Aarik Dahlen, Howie Dahlen, Lee Wise, Zachary Wise and David Forde. Organist was Kathy Tollefsrud. Hymns were “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” “Borning Cry,” “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” and “How Great Thou Art.”

Arnold Gale Dahlen was born May 29, 1929, to Alex and Henrietta (Bakken) Dahlen in Decorah. He was baptized June 23, 1929, and confirmed in 1943, at Glenwood Lutheran Church where he remained a member his entire life. Arnold attended rural country school and graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1947. Arnold served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War. He was in Occupation Forces stationed in Germany. Arnold and Donna “Peggy” Halverson were married September 22, 1951, at Decorah Lutheran Church. To this union six children were born: Allan, Helen, Howard, Arnold Jr., Roger and Wanda. Arnold and Peggy enjoyed their life together on their farm raising hogs and dairy cattle. They also knew it was a good place to raise their children.

Peggy died Oct. 29, 1994.

Arnold married Nannette Forde Larson Aug. 4, 2001, at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. Together they enjoyed traveling, playing cards, their Tuesday breakfast group and sharing their farm activities together.

Arnold is survived by his wife, Nannette; six children: Allan (Patricia) Dahlen of Decorah; Helen (Leland) Wise of Lake Geneva, Wis., Howard (Jan) Dahlen of Gainesville, Ga., Arnold Jr. (Julie) Dahlen and Roger (Dorothea) Dahlen of Decorah and Wanda (Larry) Lurken of Kenyon, Minn.; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Phyllis Wanless of Decorah and Hazel (Dean) Downing of Postville; sister-in-law Joanne Abby of Naples, Fla.; brother-in-law, Wesley (Bette) Forde of Decorah; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Peggy; his sister, Helen, in infancy; sister and brother-in-law, Lila and Vernon Ruen; and two brothers-in-law, Bernard Wanless and John Abby.