Arnold Armstrong

On August 16, 2021, Arnold Armstrong passed away peacefully in his sleep at MidMichigan Medical Center in Alpena. Arnold was born on January 30, 1931 to Robert George Armstrong and Alzina Armstrong (Tacia) on their farm located on Quick Road in Harrisville. Arnold walked to Pyne School on Poor Farm Road until 6th grade when he transitioned to Harrisville Consolidated Schools and later graduated. Being an only child Arnold spent much of his time helping his parents out on their 80-acre farm by hand milking cows, raising chickens, and using his father’s team of horses to farm. Arnold grew up across from where his father was born and purchased a house and property for his own family a couple miles away from where he grew up. Arnold truly was a small town born and raised native of Alcona County. Not having electricity and plumbing when he was a child, Arnold remembered playing outside with his wagon and having to use the outhouse out back. In his words, “it wasn’t very pleasant to run out there in winter.” Upon graduation from Harrisville High School in 1949 Arnold worked as a laborer and stayed on his family’s farm for a few years. He remembered getting his first car, a used Chevrolet, when he was about twenty years old. He was drafted and served in the in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 in the artillery unit 105mm, Howitzer. He served 18 months in Schwabach Germany where he remembered it taking eleven days to cross the ocean. While on the ship Arnold remembered getting sick with pneumonia and his unit thinking he fell overboard. While in Germany Arnold remembered riding on trains frequently and seeing his first expressway, the Autobahn. Upon completing his service in 1956 Arnold remained in the Army reserves for a few years. He worked for General Motors for a few years in the crankshaft department before starting his career in the construction field. Arnold was a union man who helped build bridges locally and throughout the region. He met his first wife, Marjorie Ann Sharboneau, when she would come to visit with her father who helped combine on his family’s farm. Arnold and Marjorie started dating after his deployment and were married in 1957. In 1993 Arnold married longtime friend and companion Rose Anne Yulle, who turned him into a cat person. Arnold was a hardworking and independent man his whole life. If you ask his family, one of his greatest personal battles was his fight to keep Russian Olive bushes off his 40-acre property. Arnold could be seen up until his last days with his lawnmower tractor, a shovel, and grandchild following along as they dug up Russian Olive bushes in his field. He loved attending church service at the Baptist Church in Lincoln and never missed a potluck. Arnold was also an expert price negotiator and the best at cutting grass around. In his words, “no one knows how to cut my grass correctly.” Arnold is survived by his wife Rose Anne Armstrong (Yulle), children Nancy (Jeff) Stoops, Rita Hartwig, and Laura Thomas, stepson Brenton (Mimi) Miks, nine grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and Michael Armstrong. He is proceeded in death by his parents, son in laws Anthony Hartwig and Arthur Thomas, and step-daughter Juleen Wesholski. An outdoor memorial lunch-in will be held at Arnold’s house on Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 11:00am-3:00pm at 3276 French Road in Lincoln. Family and friends are invited to stop by for lunch and share their favorite memories. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Arnold Armstrong, please visit our flower store.