Arnold John Long

Arne was born on November 10, 1934 in Stanley, WI to Rudolph and Alice (Swenby) Long. He was their first child and grew up in the Stanley area. He majored in biology at St. Olaf College and minored in history. During college he was a member of the Air Force R.O.T.C. on campus and following graduation, he served for four years in the US Air Force. He married Maxine Louise Evenson on October 6, 1956 in International Falls, MN. Following completion of his military service, he worked briefly for the Department of Agriculture and the Social Security Administration in Maryland. He entered the National Park Service and trained in Yosemite National Park where he became a National Park Ranger. He then went on to work at Gettysburg National Monument, Pennsylvania and later moved to Kettle Falls, WA where he worked on the upper Colombia River along the Roosevelt National Recreation Area. From there he moved to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, and then on to Grand Marais, MN, where he worked at Grand Portage National Monument. In 1972 he and his family moved to Wisconsin where he became the district ranger for the Namekagon and Upper St. Croix. He was an integral part of the planning and creation of this new National Scenic Riverway. Arne retired from the National Park Service in 1995.

Arne enjoyed time with his family at their Rainy Lake, MN cabin and at their Jump River, WI woods. He enjoyed canoeing, hiking, and was an avid reader. More than anything else he loved spending time with his best friend and wife Maxine.

Arne is survived by; his wife, Maxine, of Spooner, three children, Katherine Marie (Jeffrey) Eisele, of Sioux Falls, SD, Steven Eric (Catherine) Long, of Duluth, MN, and Sandra Jean (Mark) Pearson of Cohasset, MN; six grandchildren, Benjamin Arne Eisele, Samuel Peter Eisele, Keaton Thomas Long, Sonja Katherine Long, Simon Hanson Long, Nathaniel Mark Pearson; two siblings, Gordon (Mary) Long, of St. Peter, MN, Mary (Peter) Idsvoog, of Madison, WI; sister-in-law Arlyne (John) Kelberer Minneapolis, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, John David Long, and granddaughter, Sarah Beth Eisele.

A Memorial service will be held on Monday, August 20, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spooner, WI at 11:00 am with Reverends Russ Leeper and Jeff Eisele officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church. Inurnment will be at a later date at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Spooner. In lieu of flowers memorials may be designated to Trinity Lutheran Church, Spooner. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahlfh.com.