Jerome M. Arendt

Jerome M. Arendt, 83, longtime resident of Redlands passed away the morning of March 13, 2014 at home in Redlands from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Arendt was born December 24, 1930 on a farm near Sykeston, North Dakota to Laurence and Mary Arendt. He was the youngest of 12 children. He attended Sykeston High School and after graduation moved to Fargo, North Dakota and attended Dakota Business College for one and a half years. In January of 1951 he left for Camp Rucker, Alabama with the North Dakota National Guard to serve in the Korean War. Due to his business college background, he was assigned as camp clerk for Camp Rucker. After his service was completed, he returned to Fargo and worked for Ford Motor Company. He then enrolled in pharmacy school and graduated in 1957 from North Dakota Agricultural College (now known as North Dakota State University) with a degree in Pharmacy. He worked for three years as a pharmacist at the Fargo Clinic before moving his family to Redlands in March 1960. He continued to work as a pharmacist in Redlands for almost 30 years, eventually buying his own drug store, Prescription City, in 1977. He and his wife, Darlene, worked there together for 13 years before selling the drug store and retiring in 1990. Arendt became a pilot in 1966 and loved to fly his Cessna airplane. He served on the Redlands Airport Commission, was a member of the Civil Air Patrol based out of Norton Air Force Base and was a member of the San Gorgonio Aero Club. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles and was a member of the Good Guys Motorcycle Club of Redlands. Arendt married Darlene Ukestad of Fargo in June 1952 and they made their home in Fargo until moving to Redlands in 1960. They raised three children, all of whom attended Sacred Heart School and Redlands High School. After retiring, Arendt and his wife, who was also a pilot, spent their time flying between Redlands and their home in Gonzaga Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Arendt is survived by his wife Darlene (Redlands), his children Jeff (Gold Hill, OR), Judy Perry (Chris) (Foresthill, CA), and Tim (Hemet, CA), three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Emmerson-Bartlett Mortuary, 703 Brookside Ave., Redlands. Visitation will be held there from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday. The funeral will be at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church (formerly Sacred Heart Church), 115 W. Olive Avenue, Redlands, at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Redlands Community Hospital Hospice Foundation at www.redlandshospital/foundation.org or The National Parkinson Foundation at www.parkinson.org.