Robert (Bob) Lawton Arnquist
Birth: March 7, 1900
Enlisted: August 19, 1918
Death: January 1, 1959 (aged 58) in New Richmond, WI
Burial: New Richmond, WI Cemetery

Robert is a veteran and served in the United States Navy during World War I.

Robert Lawton Arnquist met his wife Gracie Ruth (Hooper) Arnquist while living in Hoffman, MN. Bob, as he was called, had become a friend to Ruth's family before Ruth had arrived in Hoffman. The Shaffers who had raised Ruth lived across the street from where Bob managed the Lake Region Oil Company, so the romance between Bob and Ruth began to blossom. Bob's love for music and Ruth's musical talents kindled the friendship. Ruth remembers Bob and Uncle Homer wiring the house and station so that Ruth and Homer's music could be piped into the station while Bob worked.

On Sunday evening, May 25, 1930, Bob and Ruth were married. The wedding was conducted by a fishing friend of Bob's, Rev. Wm. Lohmann, who was a pastor from Hoffman. The ceremony took place at the Nicollet Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, MN where they had rented a suite of rooms and spent part of their honeymoon. The attendants were Miss Daisy E. Bangart of Minneapolis and Walter Hendrickson of Hoffman. Ruth wore a gown of turquoise blue chiffon and the bridesmaid wore a blue silk knit ensemble. Guests at their wedding were Mr. and Mrs. N. O. Arnquist, Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Mattson, Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Lang, Dr. S.O. Arnquist, and Miss Alice Clifford. Bob and Ruth drove out to New Richmond, Wisconsin, where Ruth met John, Ella, and Dorothy Arnquist and Bob's mother, Edith Arnquist. During the honeymoon week, they also attended a Millers baseball game, which began Ruth's enthusiasm for baseball.

After their wedding trip, Bob and Ruth settled in Hoffman, MN where Bob continued to manage the oil company. Although they lived in a house in Hoffman, they spent some time staying on Lake Oscar a few miles from Hoffman. Bob managed the Lake Region Oil Company for eight local stockholders who incorporated and hired Bob in 1927. From 1957 to 1948 Bob and his brother Harry operated the Arnquist Brothers Grocery.

It was in 1948, after the births of three children, that Bob moved his family. The first child, a son, was born to Ruth and Bob January 29, 1932, and was given the name of James Dennis Arnquist. Two years later, September 9, 1934, their first daughter was born and given the name Patricia Ruth Arnquist. Their last child, a daughter, was born July 21, 1936, and named Janice Lea Arnquist. The two older children were born at the Arnquist home in Hoffman, MN. Janice however, was born in a hospital in Graceville, Minnesota.

In 1940 the family moved to New Richmond, Wisconsin, where many of Bob's family members lived. Bob was the 12th of 13 children born to John Magnus and Edith Petranella (Paulson) Arnquist. Several of the brothers were in the New Richmond area and encouraged Bob to settle there where he worked for the Doughboy Industries in the flour plant. Eventually he became the shipping clerk for Doughboy. Ruth, in the meantime was becoming established as a piano teacher in New Richmond. She gave piano and/or organ lessons for fifty-two years and played the pipe organ for the Congregational Church in New Richmond for approximately 25 years.

Bob and Ruth's first born child, James "Jim" Dennis Arnquist died of leukemia on February 9, 1994. Twin run in the family. Two of their grandchildren are twin boys: Timothy Arnquist and Robert Arnquist, born to Bob's son Jim and Ginger Arnquist,; and the two great grandchildren are twin girls :Jordan Heyn and Jennifer Heyn, born to William (Bill) and Denise Heyn, (Bill is Janice's son).

Excerpt From: "THE ARNQUISTS IN SWEDEN"
According to Arnquist ancestors, the family name in Sweden was Arn; and Robert Lawton Arnquist's Grand Father, Nils Mansson Arnquist acquired this name when he served, in the Swedish army before he was married. The suffix 'quist' or 'kvist' in Swedish was added later and probably just before emigration. The record begins with the births of Måns, in Sunne Parish in 1792 and of Kjerstin, in the same parish six years later. Måns was the son of Jons, so he became known as Måns Jonsson, and Kjerstin was 'Nilsdotter'. Such identifications were the role in those days and became part of the individual's name (the patrilineal system), especially in the rural areas in the nineteenth century. But, in the child's later years, confusion and repeated explanations generally led to a third name related to residence or occupation for the boys and to marriage for the girls.

Additional Information and Documentation Available At:

GENI.COM:
https://www.geni.com/people/Robert-Arnquist/6000000003123717841?through=6000000090995004044

FAMILYSEARCH.ORG:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/9CH5-PTN

ANCESTRY.COM:
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/162669975/person/112474396640/story