Arthur N. Adolf -- 1998

      Arthur N. Adolf, 80, passed away at his home in Phoenix, Ariz., on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998.  Art was born on June 5, 1918, at his parents' homestead in the "Settlement" north of Bethune.  He was the oldest son and fourth child of A.W. and Mary (Weisshaar) Adolf.
     He attended country schools and Bethune School, graduating in 1936.  Art attended Colorado State College of Education (now University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley but his education was interrupted by World War II.
    Entering the U.S. Army' (field Artillery) in March 1942, Art served in the Aleutian, North African, Sicilian, and Italian campaigns of the 5th Army.  Discharged in 1946 with the rank of captain, Art reactivated the National Guard Unit in Burlington and served as commander for four years, at the same time helping to found the VFW Post in Burlington.
    In September 1945, Art was married to Mary Heisel, a Navy nurse, and the couple made their home in Burlington.  Art taught school and coached at Bethune School from 1946 to 1950 and was superintendent of Bethune in the school years 1948-49.
    In addition to teaching and farming with his father and brother, Art completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at Greeley.
   During this time, two sons, Gregory and Anthony, were born to the couple.  In 1912 the family moved to Phoenix where Art went to work in the construction trade, working for a number of Phoenix construction companies before forming his own custom home construction company.  In retirement, Art served as the general contractor for Habitit for Humanity, building homes with volunteer labor for the poor in the Tucson area.
     Baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in the Settlement, Art was a devout Christian, who translated his Sunday morning worship into weekday service to others.  He loved God and he loved his neighbor.
    He was a frequent visitor to the Burlington area, subscribed to The Burlington Record and enjoyed maintaining lifelong friendships with local residents, returning each year for the county fair and rodeo.
    Art died on Aug. 25, after a three-year-long struggle with lung cancer and emphysema.  Burial with military honors was at National Veterans' Cemetery in Phoenix on Monday, Aug. 31, 1998.
   At his request, memorial gifts may be made to the local hospice program in Burlington.
   Survivors include his wife Mary of Phoenix; sons Fr. Gregory Adolf of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Chief Warrant Officer Anthony (Kellie) Adolf and grandson Eric of Phoenix; forster-daughter, Lisa Taj (fiance, Rocky Wagner) of Phoenix; his brother, Allan (June) Adolf of Bethune; his sisters Hilda Ziegler of Burlington; Amanda Richards of Bethune: Leona (Harry) Hefner of Kalamazoo, Mich.; Gladys (Hugh) Patterson of Littleton; Della (Robert) Pugh of Aurora; Eva (Edward) Wood of Yuma; brother-inlaw Donald (Connie) Heisel of Punta Gorda, Fla.; sister-in-law Ann (Joseph) Warzyn of Oklahoma City, Okla.; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and a great circle of friends.