Arlen Ray Heupel, 59, of Aberdeen, passed away Saturday, October 22, 2016, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen.

     Arlen’s wishes were to be cremated and had requested that no formal services be held.  

    An open time of fellowship, luncheon, and remembrance with family and friends will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 28, 2016, at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen.

    No visitation will be held at the mortuary.

     Arlen Ray Heupel was born on February 19, 1957, to Walter and Ruth (Heupel) Heupel in Aberdeen, SD.  This is the area where he was raised and attended school at Aberdeen Central High School.

     Having been high school sweethearts, Arlen married Cari Floyd in Aberdeen in 1979.  The couple made Aberdeen (Richmond Lake) their home.  Arlen was employed with Midcontinent Cable Company, building cable systems for many years.  He had a passion for climbing poles and hanging "line".  He then worked for Palm Tool and Twin City Fan for a short period of time.  Arlen most recently was employed with the City of Aberdeen, in the Parks and Rec. Department, where he remained until this past summer.  He began his retirement this fall.  He loved the guys he worked with and all of the activity at the Lee Park shop!

     In his spare time, Arlen enjoyed woodworking and was very talented at it.  It was a craft handed down to him by his beloved Uncle Bob Suiter and he was looking forward to doing the same as his Uncle had done.  He loved spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, gardening and boating, and also found enjoyment in collecting many things, especially knives, guns, and cars.

     Ever grateful to have shared in Arlen’s life are his wife, Cari Heupel of Aberdeen; his daughter, Angie (Derek) Johnson of Fargo, ND; two granddaughters: Averi and Quinn Johnson of Fargo; his mother, Ruth Heupel, brother, Allan (Diane) Heupel, and sister, Cynthia Bosma, all of Aberdeen; and sister-in-law, Kathy Danz of Prairie Du Sac, WI.

      Arlen found out that he had heart failure in the spring of 2015.  Since then he struggled with his weakening condition. He was so happy to have had one last pheasant hunting season with family and friends.  God has gained another hunter, fisherman, boat captain, chef, gardener, lover of animals, hunting partner, co-worker, son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, grandson, son-in-law, brother-in-law, cousin, and nephew, but mostly, beloved life-long best friend and partner to Cari.

     Arlen was preceded in death by his father, Walter, and his older brother, Gary Heupel.