Arnold T Wornson

Arnold T. Wornson, age 92 of Mankato, peacefully passed away at Our Lady of Good Counsel Home in St. Paul on Wednesday, July 14, 2010.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Mankato, with Pastor Jay Dahlvang officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Mankato Mortuary, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Mankato. Memorials may be given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Our Lady of Good Counsel Home or Pathstone Living.

Arnold was born on July 29, 1917 in Mankato to Harry and Elvina (Odegaard) Wornson. He graduated from Mankato High School, attended Mankato Commercial College, and later served in the US Air Force in World War II. Arnie was a copilot on a B-17 and was shot down in 1943 near German occupied Rennes, France. He evaded capture with the aid of the French Underground. Arnie returned to Yuma Air Force base and flew P-39s and P-63s and ended his career as a Captain/ Instructor in P-51s at Fort Meyers Air Force Base in 1945. After the war, he returned to Mankato and was a co-owner of Wornson Polzin Dental Laboratory with his partner, Paul Polzin. Arnie was united in marriage to the love of his life Bernice E. Pederson of Walnut Grove on January 11, 1947.

Arnie was a life-long member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and sang in the choir following the example of his parents. He was proud of being an Eagle Scout. He was a member of the Mankato Golf Club, the American Legion, the Elks Club, the VFW, the Thirty-Forty Club, and the Air Force Escape and Evasion Society. He enjoyed golfing, skiing, fishing, singing and playing pfeffer. He also enjoyed flying his Beechcraft Bonanza airplane with friends and family.

Arnie is survived by his wife, Bernice; three daughters, Nancy (Bob) Menzel of Elysian, Kathryn Wornson (Ken Murray) of Plymouth, and Mary (John) O'Toole of Edina; four granddaughters, Nicole (Nick) Frost and Alyssa (Joe) Balster of Shakopee, Laura and Kaitlin Murray of Plymouth; three grandsons, Michael and Sean O'Toole of Edina, and Eric Murray of Plymouth; two great-granddaughters, Nadia Frost and Sydney Balster of Shakopee; and also five nephews, Richard, Tom, Doug, Jamie, and David.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Clayton Wornson and his wife, Lillie of Clear Lake, IA.

Arnie will be remembered by family and friends for his warm and gentle spirit, his love of life, his sense of humor, and love of music and dancing.