Loretta Arnzen

Loretta Ann Arnzen, 88, of Jackson passed away Friday, Aug. 5, 2016, at the home of a daughter in Jackson.

She was born Feb. 23, 1928, in Laflin, Missouri, to Henry and Cornelia VanDoren Steinnerd. She and Eugene Arnzen were married May 28, 1949, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Leopold, Missouri. They had been married 55 years when Eugene passed away April 12, 2005. Their union was blessed with six children.

Loretta attended grade school in Leopold and was a 1946 graduate of Notre Dame High School in St. Louis. She was a faithful, longtime member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish in Jackson, where she actively quilted with friends. She also enjoyed sewing, crocheting and making Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls.

Loretta was a stay-at-home mom until all her children were in school. She then worked as a cook at Jackson R-2 Schools, Atlas Plastics, and did custodial work at Immaculate Conception Catholic School and the K.C. Hall in Jackson.

Loving survivors include six children, Bernita (Tommy Sr.) Shrum of Jackson, Carolyn (Dean) Surface of Grassy, Missouri, Kathleen “Kathy” Arnzen of Jackson, Barbara Arnzen of Jackson, Jane (Rick) Fields of Glenallen, Missouri, and Mark Arnzen of Jackson; 10 grandchildren, Leslie (Jared) Caldwell, Amos, Amber and Ashley Locklear, Stacey (Joel) Lindley, Molly, Brianna and Ava Arnzen and Zachary and Seth Fields; two stepgrandchildren, Jacob and Nathan Surface; 14 great-grandchildren, Kameron, Kaitlyn, Mason, Aubri, Talyn, Xavier, Malikai, twins Ashton and Allen, Jaxx, Macy, Briley, Kylee and Hudson; and three sisters, Monica (the late Joe “Champ”) Lewis of Jackson, Eula (the late Elmer) VanGennip of Glennon, Missouri, and Ursula (the late Joe) Nenninger of Leopold.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Allen; and three sisters, Margaret (Philip) Elfrink, Genevieve (Joe) Elfrink and Winnifrieda (Elmer) Beck.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. Deacon Walter Biri will lead parish prayers at 7 p.m., immediately followed with a rosary led by St. Ann’s Sodality.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson, with the Rev. William Hennecke officiating. Burial will be at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. John’s Parish in Leopold or St. Anthony’s Parish in Glennon.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.