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Jan G. Arnold Obituary – 2/10/2014


Jan Gail (Thompson) Arnold, age 59, of Cokato, died Monday, Feb. 10, 2014.

She was born Jan. 20, 1955, in Minneapolis, the daughter of Mark and Ruth (McDonald) Thompson.

Jan attended school in Richfield, graduating from Richfield High School in 1973, a member of a class of over 1,000 students.

Her first marriage was to Kelly Engberg. They had two daughters, Charista Rose (Engberg) Harristhal in 1978, and Amanda Laire in 1982.

Her second marriage, to Jay Arnold, was April 20, 1996. Jan being nearly 14 years older than Jay, and he being only 10 years older than his step-daughter Charista, this was not your typical marriage.

After eight years of chasing worldly dreams, Jan and Jay attended the 2004 Easter services at Elim Mission Church. Three weeks later, they turned to Jesus Christ, spending their remaining 10 years together born again as children of the living God.

During Jan’s life, she was employed as a beautician, police officer, property manager, seamstress, accountant, and insurance associate. She had a do-it-yourself attitude, loved sewing, especially making her own clothes; beading, and was out in the garden planting, weeding and watering each spring and summer.

Jan will be remembered for her empathy toward others, her willingness to teach, and her passion to know her Savior through Scripture.

She is survived by her husband, Jay; mother Ruth Thompson; her children, Charista and Amanda and their husbands; siblings Paula (Mike) Kretchmer and Bradley (Libby) Thompson and their spouses; and many nieces and nephews.

Jan was preceded in death by her father, Mark Thompson.

Services took place Friday, Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. at Elim Mission Church in Cokato.

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