Joseph Francis Arnet
Joseph Francis Arnet, aged 96, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2024 in St. Louis, MO.
Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 1st, 2025 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2 Seton Ct., St. Charles, MO 63303. Visitation from 9:30-10:30 am. Mass following at 10:30am
Joe was born on March 11, 1928 at home on Waldridge Place, St. Louis to Joseph A & Helen Gartland Arnet. He is reunited in eternal rest with his wife of 61 years Marian (née Siebert), son Joseph F. Arnet, Jr., daughter Susan M. Rinehart, daughter-in-law Linda Lockard Arnet and brothers Robert Arnet & James Arnet, and many other family members and friends.
He is survived by his daughter, Judy (Dave) Suchanek and son-in-law Jack Rinehart; grandchildren Ryan (Lauren) Arnet, Kelly (Michael) Mammoser, Lauren Rinehart, Courtney (Zack) Hess, Matthew Rinehart, Emily (Scott) Capecchi, Rebecca Suchanek and 7 great grandchildren.
Joe grew up in the tightly knit community of Baden where his Grandfather was the caretaker and lived in Calvary Cemetery. He attended the old Mt. Carmel school next to Holy Cross through 8th grade. He attended Beaumont High School for 9th & 10th grade. He started selling newspapers when he was 11 years old. He would ride in the sidecar of a motorcycle to the corner of Riverview & Mclaran in Baden and walk the streets selling the papers for 3 cents. At 15 he started working in George Byerschmidt’s Grocery store everyday after school. At 16 to help his mother & brothers, he left school to work full time at Pullman Company. He then worked at Charter Oak for the next 5 years. When they closed he went to St. Louis Malleable Casting Co. He was working there when he and Marian married in 1951. After their honeymoon he left to be an Army Combat Engineer in Korea for the next 2 years. Upon returning from war he worked at St. Louis Car Company and purchased the parts to make the elevators that transport people to the top of the Arch. When the St. Louis Car Company closed, he finished out his last 20 years of his career as the Purchasing Manager at Barry Wehmiller where he retired in 1993.
Joe & Marian met when they were 13 years old. Marian and her family lived upstairs from Joe’s family in a duplex in Baden. Joe’s mother Helen insisted he take Marian to the movies with his friends because she looked so lonely. They married on July 21, 1951 while Joe was on a 3 week leave before being deployed to Korea. When they first married they lived in another tight knit community, Bissell Hills until 1963 where they moved to North St. Louis County. Upon retirement they moved to their dream home in Foristell Missouri on a lake. Marian enjoyed her time fishing, watching golfers while riding around in her golf cart and making bacon waffles for her grandchildren at sleepovers. Joe enjoyed cutting the grass and having large barbecues for friends and family. There was never a man who worked harder nor did more for his family than Joe.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Manor Grove in Kirkwood and Friendship Village Hospice. Donations may be made to Friendship Village Hospice Sunset Hills, 12563 Village Circle Drive, Sunset Hills, MO 63127, Attn: Sue Champion.
Joe’s sarcastic sense of humor was always present when he was around. He teased me every time we were together, starting at a very young age. As an adult, I realized just how funny he was.
It wasn’t until recently that I learned about the challenges he faced through life and how hard he worked to overcome them. I would never have guessed that from how well he treated his family and friends. He was always fun to be around.
Joe and Marian were dear friends of my parents for more than 70(?) years. I used to refer to them as Aunt Marian & Uncle Joe. They will be in my heart, thoughts and prayers as long as I live.
Thank you for making my life better.
I will always remember Mr. Arnet referring to me as ‘Scrubby’, i.e. scrubby Dutch, after putting Judy and Dave’s kids to work to get the house in order before Judy returned home from a hospital stay. That was more than 20 years ago. The nickname stuck, and it made me feel special. I also remember many times when Judy and I would meet at our favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner only to find out that Mr. Arnet had ‘slipped’ money to Judy beforehand to pay for our dinner. These will remain sweet memories.