Arnold Franklin Schmitke
Born: May 31, 1933 Died: June 12, 2007
Arnold was born May 31, 1933 in Stephen, MN Harold remembers being so excited when Arnold was born: after 4 sisters, he finally had a brother. Arnold would serve in the army in the Korean War and then be stationed in Germany. In Korea, he was wounded, but did not receive a purple heart because he did not want to leave the front line.
While stationed in Germany, Arnold met Hedwig ‘Hedy’ Elteste and they were married July 27, 1957 in Frankfort, Germany. They would later foster a few children and would adopt four. They settled in Biwabik, then Palo, MN and Arnold would work for and retire from Erie Mining Co. in Aurora, MN Their son Erik, passed away at age 10 in 1979 from a brain tumor.
