Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Arndt, Bieneck, Sternitzky, Macha, Kruta
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/15/2020
Arndt, Adeline (100th Birthday – 9 July 2020)
A Special Celebration for a ‘Special Lady’
Adeline Arndt just celebrated her 100th birthday. Among her interests throughout her years has been spending time outdoors. Submitted photo
The children of Adeline Arndt, a resident at the Sunset Gardens assisted living facility in Neillsville, recently celebrated a remarkable milestone in Adeline’s life.
“A very special lady, Adeline (Bieneck) Arndt celebrated her 100th birthday on July 9 with a small family gathering at her assisted living center in Neillsville,” said Darlene Kruta, one of Adeline’s children.
Adeline the daughter of Joseph (Hip) and Elsie Sternitzky, was born in the Town of Lynn. Adeline had five sisters, all of whom are deceased. She married Paul Bieneck in 1937 and they farmed for more than 40 years.
Adeline and Paul had seven children – Dennis, Lila, Iris, Roy, David, Duane and Darlene.
“Adeline was married to Paul for 56 wonderful years when he died in 1993,” Darlene wrote.
Adeline later remarried Herb Arndt, and they spent 10 years dancing and traveling before he passed in 2005.
Although they never married, Adeline had a very dear friend, Al Macha, who made her 90s “an adventure.”
“They spent every weekend dancing, playing cards, trying their luck at the casino and traveling through the United States,” Darlene wrote.
Al died tragically in a house fire in 2017.
Adeline has had an active life. She always had a large garden, canning 600 or more quarts of vegetables every summer and making countless bouquets of gladiolas for church and special occasions.
“She loves to fish and is a master at fileting them,” Darlene said.
Adeline also loves music, and even played guitar in her family band when she was young. She passed down her talent for music to many of her children and grandchildren.
Adeline has made hundreds of quilts over the years and still has a sewing machine in her room at Sunset Gardens. She has made more than 30 quilts since moving there in late 2019. When she isn’t making quilts, she crochets. Last year, she made 150 snowflakes for gifts and to decorate the Christmas trees at church.
“The thing people probably love the most about Adeline is her great sense of humor and memory for thousands of jokes that she has collected over the last hundred years,” Darlene wrote. “She keeps her friends and staff at Sunset Gardens in laughter.”
Adeline wasn’t able to have the big celebration she wanted because of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she appreciated all the cards and birthday wishes.
Adeline’s children collaborated on this release.
