Obituary of Arthur Charles Barschdorf

Arthur "Art" Charles Barschdorf of Duluth/Hermantown passed away on Feb. 16, 2017 at age 100.6. He is now with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the love of his life, Phyllis Stewart Barschdorf. He was a man who lived his faith, a man of integrity, and a man who came from humble beginnings. He is described by family and friends as being very loyal, generous, compassionate, intelligent. He loved learning and writing and often called it exhilarating (as evidenced by his many letters to the editor). Most of all, he loved and cherished his large family which spans five generations. His second life long love was playing and watching golf. He was born in Adams, Mass., on July 31, 1916. Art was the oldest of eight children, who grew up during the Depression in Bennington, Vt. He often said his family may not have had enough to eat, but there was always love, laughter, and music. Art had to leave high school at age 16 to help support his family after his mother died in 1932. This developed in Art a great appreciation for life, a drive for hard work, and an optimistic attitude. Family and friends often called him the ultimate optimist. In fact he was a member of the Optimist Club in Duluth for 57 years. In March of 1940, Art enlisted in the Company I-172nd Infantry of the Vermont National Guard. In February 1941, the Vermont National Guard were drafted into the 43rd New England Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. Art worked in the Public Information Section as writer and editor of the division newspaper, The Grapevine, and sent articles to Stars and Stripes and the Bennington Banner. Throughout his service in the Pacific Theater (New Zealand, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Russell Islands and Solomon Islands), Art always carried a typewriter instead of a gun. In 1943, Art was promoted to Master Sergeant and was reassigned to the U.S. Army Ground Forces Headquarters in Washington D.C. He worked as the Enlisted Chief of the Special Information Section at the Army War College. Art met his loving wife, Phyllis, there, and they married in March 1945. Art was honorably discharged from the Army in October 1945. He was hired right after he was discharged as a Newspaper Reporter for the Hammond Indiana Times and also reported for the Chicago News Tribune. He attended Northwestern University on the G.I. Bill. By 1947, Art and Phyllis were parents to John and Linda. In 1952, Art was awarded a Nieman Fellowship for Journalism to Harvard University. He moved his family to Cambridge, Mass., for the 1952-53 academic year, where son David was born in 1953. After a short move back to Indiana, Art was offered a position in late 1953 as Director of Public Information at Minnesota Power. Art and Phyllis welcomed daughter Janet in 1954. He spent the next 27 years working for Minnesota Power. Art had Director of Area Development added to his Public Information duties in 1962. He was promoted to Director of Public Affairs in 1973. In 1976, Art was promoted to Corporate Communication Counsel. He retired from his career at Minnesota Power in 1981. While at Minnesota Power, Art served as a member of the nationwide Electric Information Council (EIC). He was hired by EIC in 1981, and he promoted and raised funds for them for the following 14 years all over the United States. Many times Phyllis joined him on those trips. Art loved Duluth and was very active in his community. He served as a member and chairman/president on many civic and business committees. Art was a dedicated member and one of the founders of the former St. Edward's Episcopal Church in Duluth and served his faith community tirelessly. When St. Edward's closed, he became a dedicated member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Hermantown. Art was preceded in death by his loving wife, Phyllis; his father, Fred; his mother, Violet; his brothers, Alfred "Babe" and John "Jack"; and his sisters, Jane and Irene. He was the patriarch of a large loving family and extended family, many of who still live "back East" in New England. Art was a beloved dad, gramps, brother, uncle, role-model, mentor, and friend. He is survived by sons, John (Susan) and David; daughters, Linda Breimon and Janet (Fred) Masey; grandchildren, Lisa (Greg) Maurer, Christina (Jeremy) Nevilles-Sorell, Darin Barschdorf, Corey (Kris) Barschdorf and Noah Masey; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Danielle, Jonah, Makya, Logan, Drew, Kate, Abby, and Bennett; great-great grandchildren, Aaliyah, Kiana, Cameron and Alanna; sister, Ethel; brothers, Jim and Bill; and many nieces and nephews. We will all love and cherish our wonderful memories of him. The family would like to offer their appreciation and thanks to all the dedicated staff at Edgewood Assisted Living for their care of Art during the last six months of his life. A celebration of life service will be held on June 11, 2017 in Trinity Episcopal Church at a time to be determined. Memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 4903 Maple Grove Rd, Hermantown, MN 55811 or CHUM 102 W 2nd St. Duluth, MN 55802.