Thomas G Arlt

Thomas Gregory Arlt, age 72, passed away on February 13th, 2026, in Harlingen, TX. Born March 27, 1953, in Springfield, Ohio, to Robert and Harriette “Pat” Arlt, he lived a life defined by adventure, a can-do attitude, love of family, and plenty of humor and laughter too.

Tom spent his early years in Springfield, Ohio where he grew up with 3 siblings. They describe Tom as a fun-loving, if not just a bit mischievous, child. Some of his early pranks included leaving a snake in the family’s coffee can to be found by his unsuspecting Mother, frequently leaving his little brother upside down in the snowbank, and roping in the neighborhood kids to make a train from their wagons that careened down the hill in front of their house on Devon Drive. As Tom grew up, so did his desire to see more of the world. Shortly after graduating from Northeastern High School, he set out on his first great adventure with his childhood best friend. Armed with little more than curiosity and determination, the two hitchhiked south and then west from Springfield with the grand idea of seeing the country — and possibly homesteading in Alaska. They made it as far as South Padre Island, Texas, where they camped on the beach for the winter, collecting stories (and probably a little sand in everything they owned). By spring of 1972, they decided Alaska could wait and made their way home the same adventurous way they’d left — with stories that played out like a sitcom.

He attended Bemidji State University from the fall of 1972 to winter of 1976, studying Fisheries and Wildlife Management. In 1974, he married, Joanie Passseri, beginning a 33-year chapter that brought three children into his life — the role he would always consider his most important job.

In March 1976, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Nuremberg, Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1979 with the rank of Sergeant — a title he carried with quiet pride.

Back in Bemidji, he took on dairy farming — despite not growing up on a farm. True to form, he simply decided to learn it. Through books, farming magazines, hands-on grit, and sheer determination he became a successful self-taught farmer and was named Beltrami County Farmer of the Year. It turns out you can learn almost anything if you’re determined enough.

After 13 years in farming, he returned to college and earned his medical technology degree. He went on to serve as Lab Director at Sanford Clinic in Bemidji and Indian Health Services in Cass Lake where he brought steady work ethic and leadership.

In 2018, he moved to Pequot Lakes to be with his beloved partner, Carole. Together they squeezed every drop out of life taking numerous trips — from an unforgettable African photo safari to deep-sea fishing in Cabo San Lucas, where he proudly reeled in a monster marlin (a story that may have grown slightly with time). He also cherished summers in MN that were spent on the lake with family and friends. In a beautiful full-circle twist, he returned to Texas, and purchased a winter home for his retirement just across the bridge from South Padre Island — proving that sometimes youthful adventures turn into lifelong love affairs. He happily chased sunshine and fish year-round.

Tom was an accomplished woodworker, a man who could fix nearly anything (often without instructions), and a lover of nature. His laughter was contagious. His smile lit up a room. He loved telling a good story, but his favorite stories were the ones told by his kids about the mundane happenings of their daily life because above all else, he was Dad and Grandpa. His three children and seven grandchildren were his greatest pride, and he was their loudest cheerleader.

He is survived by his beloved partner, Carole Steinke; his three children, Emily (Matt) Benz, Sarah Arlt (Brad Nelson) and Jared Arlt; his seven cherished grandchildren, Elena, Lily, Juniet, Georgia, Ellis, Olivia, and Eva; his former wife of 33 years, Joan Passeri, with whom he shared the blessing of raising their family; his siblings; and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Harriette “Pat” Arlt, and his second wife, Lynn Seitz.

He lived boldly, loved deeply, worked hard, laughed often, and never stopped chasing the next horizon. Tom will be forever missed