Obituary of Arthur Harris Abrahams

 

Arthur died at his home on March 16th, 2025.

Born in 1935, he graduated from Washburn HS, began college at the University of Michigan, and graduated from the University of Minnesota college of Engineering with a BSME in 1957. His career spanned many facets of the automotive and machine tool industries.

Art was a pilot and traveled with his wife Bonnie on trips through the American West, Canadian Rockies, and Mexico City. He loved dogs, Canadian duck hunting, and sailing. They also traveled widely throughout Britain, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Maritime Provinces.

Anything Art couldn’t drive or fly, he restored or built. As a young man he drove in the Sports Car Club of America racing in the Midwest, the East, and Pikes Peak, CO. In retirement he returned to racing, restoring and rebuilding vintage midget race cars, which he drove at tracks in the East and Midwest. Art also had a major part in rebuilding a Ranger aircraft engine for the PT 19 World War II plane that The American Aviation Foundation restored.

Art spent his childhood summers at YMCA Camp Warren and as an adult, served on the board of management for the camp. He was a volunteer with the Minnesota Streetcar Museum on both the Lake Harriet streetcar and on the historic steamboat Minnehaha, on Lake Minnetonka. His last projects were volunteering in his community of Eldorado Estates.

Art is survived by his wife of 62 years Bonnie (Elton), daughter Serene (Tom Olberding), grandchildren Leah Abrahams, Even Abrahams, sister Ethel Bukofsky, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son John Abrahams, sister Nancy Kieffer, his parents Serene Harris Abrahams and Dr. Oscar Abrahams.

 

Celebration of Art’s life will be held at Centennial Lakes Hughes Pavilion, Sunday May 4th at 11:00 AM.

If desired, donations in Art’s memory may be made to:

John Harris Abrahams endowed campership

YMCA of the North

NW 5901 PO Box 1450

Minneapolis, MN 55485-5901

Or to any animal welfare organization or donor’s choice.