Charleen Mary Arnold

CHARLEEN “CHAR” MARY ARNOLD, age 75, of Waseca passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at Prairie Cottages of Owatonna.

Born on December 25, 1949, in Mankato, Char was the daughter of Jacob and Josephine (Groh) DeGonda. She attended Good Counsel Academy in Mankato and graduated with the Class of 1968. Char began her career at IDS in Minneapolis before working as a paraprofessional in the Waseca Public Schools for fifteen years. But most of all, she was a stay-at-home mom for eighteen years. She thrived as a domestic engineer.

On April 29, 1972, she was united in marriage to Gary Arnold at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Mound, MN. Together, they raised three children: Nathan, Nicholas, and Molly. Char cherished being a mother and found immense joy in the time she spent with her children.

Char had many passions throughout her life. She enjoyed cleaning (a lot!), sewing, golfing, biking, walking, exercising, cooking, baking, and reading novels. Her greatest joy came from time spent with her grandchildren, especially at the family lake home, with whom she shared countless moments of laughter and love.

She was a devoted member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where she participated in the Catholic Daughters and sang in the church choir. She was also an active member of the Waseca Chorale.

Char is survived by her husband, Gary Arnold of Waseca; children, Nathan (Amber) Arnold of Orono, Nicholas (Shannon) Arnold of Savage, Molly Arnold of Eden Prairie; grandchildren, Alexis, Brody, Lauren, Samantha, Lucy; siblings, Geraldine Meincke of Shenandoah, IA, Carole McAfee of Chandler, AZ, Marcia (David) Gill of San Diego, CA, Amee (Edward) Gangl of Blaine.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Josephine DeGonda; and brother, James DeGonda.

Visitation for Char will be from 4 – 7 PM on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at the State Street Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service in Waseca. A rosary will be at the 3:30 PM at the funeral home on Monday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Burial for Char will take place at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at St. Ann Catholic Cemetery in Kimball, MN.