Walter William Furseth

Walter Furseth

Walter William Furseth of Arkdale, Wisconsin, was called home to heaven by his gracious God on February 10, 2022, at the age of 72. Walter was born September 9, 1949, in Madison, Wisconsin. When he was five years old he was adopted by his father and mother, Roger and Wilma (Kopp) Furseth. He was made a child of God in Holy Baptism and later confirmed in the truths of the Christian faith at First East Koshkonong Lutheran Church in Cambridge, Wisconsin.

Walter spent his childhood helping on the family dairy and tobacco farm near Cambridge. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1967 and soon after joined the Air National Guard. He received a medical discharge after about a year and a half due to a knee issue. Walter would go on to serve in the United States Marine Corps (he didn’t tell them about his knee). He was stationed in several locations throughout the United States and also spent over a year in Morocco guarding communication bases.

As his time in the Marine Corps drew to a close, he started a family and was blessed with two children, Carla and Michael. On September 14, 1984, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waupun, Wisconsin, Walter married Arlene Moll (Hendrickson) who had already been blessed with three children of her own: Sherry, Raymond, and Julie. Walter and Arlene joined their families together and were blessed with over 37 years of marriage. During that time Walter spent many years as an over the road truck driver for Martin and later TTI, retiring in 2017.

Walter was a man of varied interests and hobbies. He like to read and was interested in history. He enjoyed following the Green Bay Packers. He loved to spend time hunting and fishing. He really enjoyed the many years he was able to train horses. Walter even spent time beekeeping and bottling his own honey. All these things brought him joy most of all because he was able to do so many of them with his family and friends.

The last several years certainly brought their share of challenges to Walter and Arlene, but through it all they leaned on one another and trusted in their Lord. Walter was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Friendship, Wisconsin. Even as his health struggles presented challenges, he always made an effort to attend worship, especially when he could receive Holy Communion. He appreciated the Word of God and his faith in Jesus gave him both comfort in life and confidence in the face of difficulty and even death. A Bible verse that brought him peace was John 3:16 where Jesus says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Walter was preceded in death by his father, Roger Furseth; brother, Robert Furseth; and daughter, Sherry McNamara (Moll). He is survived by his wife, Arlene Furseth of Arkdale, Wisconsin; his children: Carla Venable (Rob) of Arkdale, Wisconsin; Michael Furseth (Linette) of Cumberland, Wisconsin; Raymond Moll of Almena, Wisconsin; and Julie Freitag (Ron) of Brownsville, Wisconsin; his brother-in-law Arnold Hendrickson of King, Wisconsin; his brother-in-law George Schave (Susie) of California; his sister-in-law Bonnie Robertson (Steve) of Minnesota; and his son-in-law Dennis McNamara (Sherry +). He is further survived by seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, as well as nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 26, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 511 West Lake Street, in Friendship, Wisconsin. A Christian funeral will take place the same day at 12:00 p.m. (noon), followed by military honors outside the church and a meal to be held in the church fellowship hall. Pastor Jasper Sellnow of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will preside. Burial will take place at a later date at Ohio Cemetery in Rio, Wisconsin.

Walter’s family would like to thank those who offered not only care but dignity and honor to him both in life and death at the VA Hospital of Madison, Wisconsin. Roseberry’s Funeral Home of Friendship, Wisconsin is assisting with funeral arrangements, and you are welcome to leave online condolences at their website: www.roseberrys.com

So says the Lord Jesus Christ: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:24-25