Arnold Schenker

Arnold (Arnie) Schenker On January 16, 2008 our wonderful Arnie, went peacefully to be with the Lord in His eternal kingdom. We here on earth will miss him greatly but look forward to the day we are all reunited in Heaven. This kind and good man was born October 26, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York, son of Herman and Betty Schenker, who predeceased him. Arnie is survived by his wife Paula Brown: sister, Rita Press (husband Mort): children, Beth Schenker-Robinson (husband Steve), Marilyn Conant (husband James), Sandy Jahns (husband Tim). David Schenker (wife Melissa), Howard Schenker (wife Serina), Mike Brown (wife Elizabeth ) and Jenny Welker (husband Richard). Grandchildren: Sara Robinson, Brently Schenker, Cameron Brown, Weston Brown, Taylor Welker, and Bryant Turner (currently serving our Country at the Great Lakes Naval Academy). Great Granddaughter: Ryleigh Turner. Special life-time friends who were as close as family: Arthur (Buddy) Bleecher and wife Mary; Stan Boas and wife Lil. In June of 1945, after graduation from the Maritime Service Training Station at Hoffman Island, NY as a radio operator, Arnie proudly served his beloved country as an Officer with the Merchant Marines (US Coast Guard) during WW II on the ST Owyhee, a T-2 fuel tanker which sailed from Pennsville, NJ to India, Iran, Australia, various Pacific Islands, to the Sea of Japan and finally through the Panama Canal and back to the US at New Orleans at the end of the war. Since he enjoyed what he was doing, he continued sailing as a Merchant Marine Radio Officer until September 1947. His last two trips were on the Liberty Ship SS Richard Mumford Pearson and the MV Coastal Mariner. He was always delighted to share his stories of his time in the military with everyone and anyone. Arnie started in business at the early age of 14, selling shoes in New York. He also managed the receiving dock of a large department store while attending high school. After the war he worked in his father’s business until 1954 when he started his own company manufacturing Schiffli Embroidery in NJ. From 1968 to 1971 he owned and operated 3 pool halls in Tucson, AZ. From that point on he worked as an independent insurance broker/agent. Arnie was constantly involved in his community. His volunteer activities have included: Gaurdian Ad Litem with the Juvenile Court System; member of the Development Authority for Tucson Economy; member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force; two years service with the Tucson Literacy Program; Certified Arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau; board member and past-president of the Tucson Chapter of the City of Hope; and a Hearing Officer with the Consolidated Justice Courts System of Pima County, Arizona. He loved his blended family beyond measure. He was always delighted to share news of the family with anyone who would listen. His greatest joy was to have the time to visit with family and friends, and especially to interact with his beautiful grandchildren. Arnie was also very proud of his Polish heritage and loved to tell everyone about his family in the “Old” and the “New” country. He would sing in Polish, Yiddish, German, Spanish and even sometimes in English! He loved life and learning. He would always admonish us to look for the similarities in all people and not dwell on the differences. Kindness was his motto. To Arnie’s many friends and relatives, and especially to the ones not mentioned here, you were as important to him as life itself. Each one of you made a difference; made him laugh, made him thankful, and played an important part in his life. May you be blessed with equally great relationships in your own lives. The family wants to express its deepest thanks to the care-givers at Lexington Place Nursing Home and to Vitas Hospice, as well as to the VA Hospital, for their wonderful care and support, making Arnie’s final days, ones of comfort, peace and dignity. A private burial service will be at the VA Cemetery in Houston, TX. A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at a later date at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Spring, TX, and will be announced in the Houston Chronicle.