Arthur R. Kalla, 87, St. Cloud

April 4, 1928 - September 12, 2015

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Thursday, September 17, 2015 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud for Arthur Kalla who died Saturday at the St. Cloud Hospital. The Rev. Thomas Knoblach will officiate and burial with full military honors will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls. Friends and relatives may call from 4-8PM Wednesday at the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in St. Cloud and 1 hour prior to services Thursday at the church in St. Cloud. Parish prayer will be at 5PM followed by the east side VFW Post # 4847 praying at 6PM Wednesday at the funeral home in St. Cloud. Please use 7th street north in lieu of 8th street due to road construction.

Art was born in Collegeville Township to John & Rosalia (Studniski) Kalla. He grew up in the Avon area and worked on the family farm until he was drafted into the Army. He served his country as a Private first Class, Corporal and Sergeant, wireman in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict; he received a Purple Heart Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Korean Service Medal, Bronze Campaign Star, and United Nations Service Medal. He married Dorothy Lehmeier on June 11, 1953 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Art worked as a journeyman pipefitter for Yager Plumbing and Heating and later, Sy Ray Plumbing and Heating until his retirement in 1993. He is a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie # 622 of St. Cloud, East Side VFW Post # 4847. Art had a passion for fishing and making lures. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He especially liked delivering his fish to the Poor Clare Sisters. He enjoyed agate collecting and gardening. He and Dorothy loved to dance. He was a hard worker and enjoyed both his work and his loyal clientele. He had a great love for nature and conservation and was connected to nature. He taught his children the importance of taking time to observe and appreciate nature and one’s surroundings. He was always patient and readily available to help others; he was always in good nature, calm, soft spoken and kind to others.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Dorothy of St. Cloud; sons and daughter, Daniel of Green Bay, WI; Pamela of St. Cloud and Michael of Palm Springs, CA; brothers and sisters, Edmund of Rockville; Alfred of St. Joseph; John Jr. of St. Joseph; Rosemary Kerfeld of St. Rosa and Donna Landwehr of St. Cloud. Grandchildren, Jason Jacobs, Nathan Kalla and Danielle Kalla, great grandson, Austin Jacobs.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Sylvester and Leonard, sister Jeannette Kerfeld and 3 grandchildren.

Memorials are preferred to the Poor Clare Sisters.