Floyd O. Arntz

Floyd’s family is thankful for the care he received at Benedictine Community of Living of St. Peter.  Memorials may be given to Lutheran World Relief, Doctor’s Without Borders, or a charity of your choice.

A Celebration of Floyd's Life will be 2:00 p.m., October 3, 2024, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato, Minnesota.  Visitation will be one hour before service at the church.  Interment will be 11:30 a.m., Friday, October 4, at Cambridge Lutheran Cemetery, Cambridge, Minnesota.Please bring your stories to share. Please be comfortable in what you wear, colors are most welcome! 

Floyd Olaf Arntz, born on November 15, 1937, in St. Paul, MN, passed away on September 22, 2024 at Benedictine Community, St Peter, MN. Floyd’s vibrant personality and generous spirit left a lasting impact on everyone he met. His warmth and kindness were shared with all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

 Floyd met the love of his life, Sharalyn (Sharie) Treichel, while waiting in line to have dinner at the Lutheran Student Association at the University of Minnesota, where he completed his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1961. The couple married in 1962 and soon moved to Massachusetts, where Floyd pursued his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which he completed in 1965.

 Floyd and Sharalyn settled in Newton, Massachusetts, where they lived for over 50 years, building a community in the Boston area of lifelong friends through their church (University Lutheran Church) and their neighborhood. They were blessed with two children, Jonathan and Alayne. Floyd was a devoted and loving father who cherished time with his family, particularly at their beloved cottage on Cape Cod. There, the family shared countless special moments, sailing on the waters, swimming in the serene kettle ponds and enjoying peaceful moments on the deck high amongst the trees. Floyd’s love for his family extended even further as he embraced his role as a grandfather, passing on his values and creating lifelong memories with his six grandchildren. With their children settling in Minnesota and Australia, Floyd and Sharalyn enjoyed many trips and fabulous adventures to both over the years. 

 Professionally, Floyd had an accomplished career. He served as an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at MIT and later as an Adjunct Professor of Electro-Optics at Tufts University. His passion for research and teaching was evident in the joy he found working with graduate students in the lab. Beyond academia,Floyd has a successful career in the high-tech sector, working at Micro-bit, later Control Data Corporation in Lexington, finishing his career at Diversified Technologies, Inc. in Bedford, Massachusetts. Floyd’s expertise, creativity and commitment led to the publishing of several patents. Floyd’s passion for technology extended into his retirement years, during which he dedicated significant time to publishing a patent for revolutionary wind-power technology- a testament to his lifelong dedication to problem solving and improving the world through innovation. 

 Floyd exuded warmth and will be remembered for his generosity, intelligence and the interest he extended to everyone he met. He was a man who never hesitated to offer his time, whether through professional mentorship, carving a sword or making a backyard swing with his grandchildren or giving his time to his church and community. 

 Floyd is survived by his wife Sharie, with whom he shared over six decades of love and partnership, his two children Jonathan (married to Susan) and Alayne (married to John) Simon and his grandchildren, Ellen, Anna, Lucas, Isabelle, Kjera and Ruby who will forever cherish memories they created together. 

Friends, family and all whose lives he touched are invited to gather to remember and celebrate the life of a man who gave so much to the world around him.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by

Mankato Area Funeral Homes.

Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.