Arnold (Arnie) Jerome Haider, 85, of Galesburg, IL, died at Knox County Nursing Home, Knoxville, IL, on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Arnie was born December 10, 1939, on a farm near St. Anthony, ND. His first of many Catholic parishes throughout his lifetime was the St. Anthony Catholic Church. He attended St. Anthony Catholic Grade School in St. Anthony, ND, and Mandan High School in Mandan, ND.
Arnie married his beloved wife, Angeline (Angie) Christine Bosch, in May 1963 in Bismarck, ND. They raised five children in a loving Catholic home. Angie was always at his side, including at the very end.
Arnie proudly served in the Army National Guard from 1961 to 1967, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant in Company A 164th Engineer Battalion.
Arnie had a long career at the JCPenney Co. He began his career in Mandan, ND, while in high school and eventually became assistant manager. He went on to be assistant manager at stores in Williston, ND, and North Platte, NE. He then served as store manager in Hartford City, IN, Marion, IL, Quincy, IL, Columbus, NE, and starting in 1992 in Galesburg, IL. He retired from JCPenney after 43 years in 1998. During his career, Arnie earned two of the company’s highest awards, The President’s Cup and The Chairman’s Award of Excellence.
Arnie was always very active in his communities. In Galesburg, he was a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club, receiving the Paul Harris Fellow Award. He additionally served on the boards of the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Knox County, Galesburg Symphony, National Stearman Fly-in – Galesburg, YMCA, TIF Board, and Soangetaha Country Club. He was a longtime member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, serving as a eucharistic minister, the ADA Chair, and on the yearbook committees. Arnie was a third-degree honorary life member of Knights of Columbus Council 556.
Arnie was deeply devoted to his faith and his family. One of the many family roles at which he excelled was being Grandpa—eagerly stealing the first cuddle, taking them fishing and on golf cart rides, hiring a Santa Claus for family Christmases, and always looking for ways to make them smile (cheating (?) at cards, going down the waterslide, busting a move to keyboard music…). He also enjoyed golfing, traveling, visiting with his coffee group, and helping his neighbors.
Arnie is survived by his wife, Angie (Galesburg, IL); five children and their spouses, Daryl and Laurel Haider (McKinney, TX), Kevin Haider (Quincy, IL), Kari and Michael Kraenow (Norfolk, NE), Renata Buchele (Quincy, IL), and Steven Haider and Jennifer Pace (East Lansing, MI); and one brother and his spouse, Dennis and Darlene Haider (Bismarck, ND). Arnie is also survived by ten grandchildren, Grant Haider (McKinney, TX), Elliott Haider (Nashville, TN), Kelsy Seiz (Raymore, MO), Ryan Kraenow (Lincoln, NE), Alex Kraenow (Omaha, NE), Sara Ostdiek (Fort Worth, TX), Logan Buchele (Quincy, IL), Samuel Haider (East Lansing, MI), Caroline Haider (East Lansing, MI), and Isaac Haider (East Lansing, MI); a brother-in-law (Richard Sturn, Bismarck, ND) and a sister-in-law (Darlene Haider, Bismarck, ND); four great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Along with his parents, Arnie was preceded in death by ten siblings and their spouses (Joseph Haider, Jr., Rosy Haider, John and Tillie Haider, Vic and Minnie Schmidt, George and Maggie Haider, Hubert Haider, and Lillian Sturn) and one grandchild (Amanda).
Visitation will be 6-7 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2025, at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. The funeral mass for Arnie will be 10 a.m., Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Galesburg, IL; Father Jeffrey Stirniman will officiate. Burial will be at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society, OSF Hospice (Galesburg), Mayo Clinic, or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.