Harold Arbeiter

Harold "Hal" Arbeiter, 93, of Jackson died Friday, April 16, 2010, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo.

He was born in the Gorham, Ill., area, son of Fred W. and Sophia Schomber Arbeiter. He and Corinne Heins were married Dec. 6, 1941, in St. Louis. She passed away Oct. 26, 2009.

Survivors include a brother, Earl Arbeiter of St. Louis; two sisters, Pearl Foy of Granite City, Ill., Ruth Ann Sextro of Nevada, Mo.; several nephews, nieces and grandnephews and nieces.

Harold attended Christ Evangelical School in Jacob, Ill., Gorham Public 8th Grade, Gorham High School and Southern Illinois University two years to earn a teacher's certificate. He taught school five years.

During the summer of the first two years, he had tryouts as a pitcher for the Cardinals and Yankees on their minor league teams.

At the end of his fifth year of teaching, our nation was preparing for the coming of World War II at a time when it was emerging from a long time depression. Demands for defense workers were high in the early 1940s.

When the school year ended in May, he joined McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis and helped the war effort for several years. While with them, he played baseball for the last time as a pitcher. McDonnell won the St. Louis Industrial Championship that year. They were fortunate to have a professional league manager to guide the team.

Hal was drafted for military service shortly thereafter, serving two and a half years. He spent 22 months in the European Theater of operation -- starting near Naples, Italy, then to France through the Mediterranean Sea, landing near Nice. After that, he moved north through France to near Paris when the war ended.

His next assignment would have required him and other soldiers without enough "service points" to go home to be shipped to Japan to defeat them. Luckily, President Truman came to the rescue and ended that war by dropping the "Big Bomb."

Harold returned to St. Louis, was discharged at Jefferson Barracks and returned to his life with Corinne. His first job was with National Service Life, then Mutual Savings Life, both in St. Louis. He then moved to Jefferson City, Mo., to help start Farm Bureau Life Insurance in 1950.

During his stay in St. Louis and Jefferson City, he completed his studies for a bachelor's degree at Washington University and also finished 14 three-hour insurance industry examinations. In May 1955 he received an offer from Aid Association for Lutherans in Appleton, Wis., to become their chief underwriter. Twenty-seven years later he retired as vice president of life and health claims.

Following retirement he was a real estate broker/salesman approximately 10 years. He had a difficult time trying to retire.

In every area where Harold and Corinne lived they were active members in the Lutheran Church. He served on various committees, taught Sunday school, participated in Bible study, served as chairman of two congregations which had major building projects.

In March 1999 Harold and Corinne moved to Jackson to really retire and where they met more of the finest people in America. He was a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau and former member of Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob.

"God has been with us and graciously guided us safely through the circuitous path of our life. Thanks be to God for all His gifts."

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time Monday at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Paul Short officiating. Burial will be in Christ Lutheran Cemetery with full military honors by American Legion Post 127, VFW Post 7190 and DAV Chapter 69.

Memorials to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau or Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com