Arthur John Vollweiler

Born May 19, 1919, deceased Nov. 8, 2006. Art was born in Aberdeen, Idaho, to Henry and Justina Vollweiler, May 19, 1919. After years of fighting a serious blood disorder, Art succumbed to congestive heart failure this morning. He lived in Idaho all of his early life and a go-getter from the start, began his own business in his early twenties. Just 23 years old, Art began Art's Machine Shop (AMS). Those of you who knew Art, knew him to be a man of integrity and great ideas. AMS is a tribute to those very ideas and his unquenchable desire to Œtinker'. AMS' humble beginnings as a simple blacksmith shop were expanded to a world-renowned manufacturing business as Art's tinkering talents earned him a reputation as the man who could Œfigure it out.' All he developed was developed with quality, because Art followed a simple philosophy that everything was a "Work of Art." Art retired in 1984 but even after his retirement, Art's mind could not be restrained, and he continued to think up ways to solve life's problems. Art was married to his first wife Ellen for 45 years before cancer took her home to be with the Lord. Together they had four children; Mary, Artha, Rick, and Tim. Art married Linda in 1991 and they have enjoyed 15 years together in Chico, Calif. Art was a member of the Rotary Club (American Falls, Idaho) and the Elks Club (American Falls, Idaho and Chico, Calif.) He earned the prestige's award of Business Man of the Year (American Falls) and was Grand Marshall 1999 (American Falls, Idaho). He also gave of his time as a scout leader for 15 years in American Falls. Art was active in the St. John's Lutheran Church while he lived in American Falls, Idaho and in the Faith Lutheran Church while he lived in Chico, Calif. Art enjoyed fishing and hunting and anything else that could be done outdoors. He spent as much of his time as possible in Island Park, Idaho where he could enjoy the outdoors that he loved. After his retirement, Art took on a new hobby - building, flying and crashing remote control airplanes. He always said he was the only one who had walked away from 30 plane crashes. Art will be remembered as a man who lived his life to the fullest. Never one to just sit around, Art was able to visit AMS and his beloved Island Park just last week and to visit with family and friends. While no one knew this would be his last visit, family and friends were given a final moment to see Art as he would have wanted to be remembered as a vibrant man who took every opportunity to LIVE. Art was preceded in death by his parents (Henry and Justina); his first wife, Ellen, of 45 years, and his two brothers; Henry, Carl and Emanual. Art is survived by his second wife Linda; his son's Rick and Tim; his daughter's, Artha and Mary; his step-kids; Paul, Tracy, Kylee, and Jamie; seven grandchildren and eight-great grandchildren, who all love and admire him for his can-do attitude. He has two surviving sisters; Anna Anderson and Ester Annon.