Arthur Eugene Marben, age 95, of Tracy, Minnesota, died, surrounded by his loved ones on July 14, 2018 at Ecumen Seasons of Apple Valley, Minnesota.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 21 at 11:00 am at White Funeral Home, 12804 Nicollet Ave S., Burnsville, Minnesota. A gathering of family and friends will start at 10 am. There will be a private burial at Fort Snelling.
Arthur E. Marben was born to John and Ella (Roth) Marben in Lamberton, Minnesota on November 7, 1922. He graduated from Lamberton High School in 1940. He attended Augsburg College until enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in October of 1942, in the V12 Program. In 1943, he was commissioned as an Officer in the Marine Corps. He led a Marine rifle platoon in the Battle of Okinawa in 1944. Following his discharge from the Marine Corps, he returned to Augsburg College and graduated in 1947. While attending Augsburg, he played baseball and basketball. He was all-conference in baseball and inducted into the Augsburg College Athletic Hall of Fame.
After graduating college, Art was hired to teach high school and coach in his hometown of Lamberton. He continued to play baseball and played in the Western Minny for Springfield, a perennial power in the league.
On September 5, 1950, he was united in marriage to Carmen Smith in Springfield. Shortly after their marriage, Art was recalled to duty in the Marine Corps. He was stationed in Quantico, Virginia, and was the Chief Executive Officer for the Marine Basic School. During his time at Quantico, he played shortstop for the Quantico Marines. While playing baseball for the Marines, he played with and against major league players. In 1951, he was named the most valuable player of the Virginia Semi-Pro Baseball tournament.
After his discharge from the Marines at the rank of Captain, he attended graduate school at the University of North Dakota and obtained a master’s degree in education. In the fall of 1953, he was hired to teach and coach at Tracy High School in Tracy, Minnesota. He became the high school principal there in 1966 until his retirement in 1985. He was named Southwest Minnesota Principal of the year in 1981.
Art was devoted to the community and students at Tracy High School. He was active in the Marine Corps Association, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lion’s Club from which he received the Melvin Jones Award, and the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Orient of Minnesota. He was named a WCCO Good Neighbor, was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school. He will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his service to the community and the pride he took in the United States Marine Corps.
Art is survived by his wife of 68 years, Carmen; three children: Kurt (Brenda) Marben of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, Brenda (Tim) Barry of Tucson, Arizona, and Michael (Karen) Marben of Lakeville, Minnesota; eight grandchildren: John (Cathy) Marben, Ann Marben, Beth (Tanner) Anderson, Katherine Wolpa, Courtney (Dan) Freiberger, Sean Marben, Michael (Laurie) Adamson and Stefan Adamson; five great-grandchildren: Jaida, Rowan, Bodi, Sawyer and Autumn; and one brother, Robert (Grace) Marben of Green Valley, Arizona, and brother-in-law, Mick Wendland.
Art was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Darrel and John; his sisters, Lucille Manderfield, Marjorie Wendland and Doretta Miller.
Online Condolences at: www.whitefuneralhomes.com