September 19, 1921 - March 19, 2016 EDMOND
March 19, 2016 Papa Francis Harold Ahrnsbrak left this life on Earth in time for his beloved wife's, Mary Ann McNally Ahrnsbrak, birthday. He was a remarkable husband, father, friend, mentor and one of the most honest, generous, wise and funny men of the Greatest Generation. He never knew he was poor during The Depression because he always had food, family and a 160 acre playground to hunt, fish and thrive from. Walking to school a couple of miles was just part of his day along with his sister Charlotte and his younger brother Johnny. After high school he joined the army; buying his bus ticket from Mary Ann in Guthrie before being shipped out for basic training and then service with the 104th Timberwolf Division of the United States Army in Germany. Despite serving half a world away, part his heart never left home. Thus when he returned to Oklahoma, he courted and married Mary Ann while pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering from OU.
Jobs were hard to find in the US at that time but with Mary Ann's gentle encouragement he moved his family, including his young daughter Patricia, to Venezuela, for a couple of years and then to Colombia where his son Michael was born. After that came Saudi Arabia, where his family flourished with the privilege of living and traveling around the world during the best and most innocent of times for us. He loved the desert and spent much time playing golf or just roaming around with his pot picking friends. His uncanny sense of direction meant he successfully returned from many overnight deep desert trips. After his retirement he settled back in Guthrie, put away his suit and spent countless hours cutting trees and clearing brush from his homestead. He found another group of fellow wanderers and golfers to pal around with. He had a great life and shared his stories and memories with anyone who would listen. His last airline trip was on an Honors Flight to Washington DC to visit the WWII Memorial, a very special honor for him and our Veterans. He entertained many with his intelligence, wit and sense of humor. Many loved him and he will be missed but his death was "a good death" on his terms, and as he wished his body was donated to OU Medical Research to further scientific research and education.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Ahrnsbrak, granddaughter Jessica Rogers and husband Harris, daughter-in-law Jody Ahrnsbrak and grandson Mic Ahrnsbrak and wife Amanda as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Since he was 94 at his death, many had predeceased him, including his beloved wife Mary Ann and son Michael Anthony, who for many years was his turtle hunting, desert and world traveling companion. His goodbye was always Fi aman Allah - go in God's protection.
Memorial Mass arrangements have been made at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Guthrie, OK, Tuesday, March 29th, at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Guthrie Food Bank or the Guthrie Animal Shelter.
Published in The Oklahoman on Mar. 26, 2016
March 19, 2016 Papa Francis Harold Ahrnsbrak left this life on Earth in time for his beloved wife's, Mary Ann McNally Ahrnsbrak, birthday. He was a remarkable husband, father, friend, mentor and one of the most honest, generous, wise and funny men of the Greatest Generation. He never knew he was poor during The Depression because he always had food, family and a 160 acre playground to hunt, fish and thrive from. Walking to school a couple of miles was just part of his day along with his sister Charlotte and his younger brother Johnny. After high school he joined the army; buying his bus ticket from Mary Ann in Guthrie before being shipped out for basic training and then service with the 104th Timberwolf Division of the United States Army in Germany. Despite serving half a world away, part his heart never left home. Thus when he returned to Oklahoma, he courted and married Mary Ann while pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering from OU.
Jobs were hard to find in the US at that time but with Mary Ann's gentle encouragement he moved his family, including his young daughter Patricia, to Venezuela, for a couple of years and then to Colombia where his son Michael was born. After that came Saudi Arabia, where his family flourished with the privilege of living and traveling around the world during the best and most innocent of times for us. He loved the desert and spent much time playing golf or just roaming around with his pot picking friends. His uncanny sense of direction meant he successfully returned from many overnight deep desert trips. After his retirement he settled back in Guthrie, put away his suit and spent countless hours cutting trees and clearing brush from his homestead. He found another group of fellow wanderers and golfers to pal around with. He had a great life and shared his stories and memories with anyone who would listen. His last airline trip was on an Honors Flight to Washington DC to visit the WWII Memorial, a very special honor for him and our Veterans. He entertained many with his intelligence, wit and sense of humor. Many loved him and he will be missed but his death was "a good death" on his terms, and as he wished his body was donated to OU Medical Research to further scientific research and education.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Ahrnsbrak, granddaughter Jessica Rogers and husband Harris, daughter-in-law Jody Ahrnsbrak and grandson Mic Ahrnsbrak and wife Amanda as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Since he was 94 at his death, many had predeceased him, including his beloved wife Mary Ann and son Michael Anthony, who for many years was his turtle hunting, desert and world traveling companion. His goodbye was always Fi aman Allah - go in God's protection.
Memorial Mass arrangements have been made at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Guthrie, OK, Tuesday, March 29th, at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Guthrie Food Bank or the Guthrie Animal Shelter.
Published in The Oklahoman on Mar. 26, 2016
September 19, 1921 - March 19, 2016 EDMOND
March 19, 2016 Papa Francis Harold Ahrnsbrak left this life on Earth in time for his beloved wife's, Mary Ann McNally Ahrnsbrak, birthday. He was a remarkable husband, father, friend, mentor and one of the most honest, generous, wise and funny men of the Greatest Generation. He never knew he was poor during The Depression because he always had food, family and a 160 acre playground to hunt, fish and thrive from. Walking to school a couple of miles was just part of his day along with his sister Charlotte and his younger brother Johnny. After high school he joined the army; buying his bus ticket from Mary Ann in Guthrie before being shipped out for basic training and then service with the 104th Timberwolf Division of the United States Army in Germany. Despite serving half a world away, part his heart never left home. Thus when he returned to Oklahoma, he courted and married Mary Ann while pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering from OU.
Jobs were hard to find in the US at that time but with Mary Ann's gentle encouragement he moved his family, including his young daughter Patricia, to Venezuela, for a couple of years and then to Colombia where his son Michael was born. After that came Saudi Arabia, where his family flourished with the privilege of living and traveling around the world during the best and most innocent of times for us. He loved the desert and spent much time playing golf or just roaming around with his pot picking friends. His uncanny sense of direction meant he successfully returned from many overnight deep desert trips. After his retirement he settled back in Guthrie, put away his suit and spent countless hours cutting trees and clearing brush from his homestead. He found another group of fellow wanderers and golfers to pal around with. He had a great life and shared his stories and memories with anyone who would listen. His last airline trip was on an Honors Flight to Washington DC to visit the WWII Memorial, a very special honor for him and our Veterans. He entertained many with his intelligence, wit and sense of humor. Many loved him and he will be missed but his death was "a good death" on his terms, and as he wished his body was donated to OU Medical Research to further scientific research and education.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Ahrnsbrak, granddaughter Jessica Rogers and husband Harris, daughter-in-law Jody Ahrnsbrak and grandson Mic Ahrnsbrak and wife Amanda as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Since he was 94 at his death, many had predeceased him, including his beloved wife Mary Ann and son Michael Anthony, who for many years was his turtle hunting, desert and world traveling companion. His goodbye was always Fi aman Allah - go in God's protection.
Memorial Mass arrangements have been made at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Guthrie, OK, Tuesday, March 29th, at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Guthrie Food Bank or the Guthrie Animal Shelter.
Published in The Oklahoman on Mar. 26, 2016
March 19, 2016 Papa Francis Harold Ahrnsbrak left this life on Earth in time for his beloved wife's, Mary Ann McNally Ahrnsbrak, birthday. He was a remarkable husband, father, friend, mentor and one of the most honest, generous, wise and funny men of the Greatest Generation. He never knew he was poor during The Depression because he always had food, family and a 160 acre playground to hunt, fish and thrive from. Walking to school a couple of miles was just part of his day along with his sister Charlotte and his younger brother Johnny. After high school he joined the army; buying his bus ticket from Mary Ann in Guthrie before being shipped out for basic training and then service with the 104th Timberwolf Division of the United States Army in Germany. Despite serving half a world away, part his heart never left home. Thus when he returned to Oklahoma, he courted and married Mary Ann while pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering from OU.
Jobs were hard to find in the US at that time but with Mary Ann's gentle encouragement he moved his family, including his young daughter Patricia, to Venezuela, for a couple of years and then to Colombia where his son Michael was born. After that came Saudi Arabia, where his family flourished with the privilege of living and traveling around the world during the best and most innocent of times for us. He loved the desert and spent much time playing golf or just roaming around with his pot picking friends. His uncanny sense of direction meant he successfully returned from many overnight deep desert trips. After his retirement he settled back in Guthrie, put away his suit and spent countless hours cutting trees and clearing brush from his homestead. He found another group of fellow wanderers and golfers to pal around with. He had a great life and shared his stories and memories with anyone who would listen. His last airline trip was on an Honors Flight to Washington DC to visit the WWII Memorial, a very special honor for him and our Veterans. He entertained many with his intelligence, wit and sense of humor. Many loved him and he will be missed but his death was "a good death" on his terms, and as he wished his body was donated to OU Medical Research to further scientific research and education.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Ahrnsbrak, granddaughter Jessica Rogers and husband Harris, daughter-in-law Jody Ahrnsbrak and grandson Mic Ahrnsbrak and wife Amanda as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Since he was 94 at his death, many had predeceased him, including his beloved wife Mary Ann and son Michael Anthony, who for many years was his turtle hunting, desert and world traveling companion. His goodbye was always Fi aman Allah - go in God's protection.
Memorial Mass arrangements have been made at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Guthrie, OK, Tuesday, March 29th, at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Guthrie Food Bank or the Guthrie Animal Shelter.
Published in The Oklahoman on Mar. 26, 2016
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