HARTFORD Arnold Jason Lusch, age 87 of Hartford, passed away on October 1, 2025, under the compassionate care of Avas House in Sioux Falls.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at St. George Catholic Church in Hartford. A visitation with family present to greet friends will take place from 5 to 7 p.m., on Monday, Oct. 6, at Miller Funeral Home Hartford Chapel, 600 S. Western Avenue, Hartford, SD 57033. Interment will take place at St. George Catholic Cemetery in Hartford, followed by a funeral luncheon at St. George Catholic Church.
Arnold was born on July 23, 1938, in Cody, Wyo., to Elmer and Carmon (Kearns) Lusch. They moved to Huron when he was a young boy. After graduating from Huron High School, he joined the National Guard and worked in the construction industry.
On August 9, 1959, he married Mary Lou Dolan in Huron. Arnie worked for General Trading Company for many years before working and retiring from Case IH. He ran Arnies Auto Parts in Huron before he and Mary Lou moved to Hartford. He was an outside salesman for Sturdevants Auto Parts and retired from there after many years.
Arnie became involved in Shotokan Karate in his late 50s and earned the rank of 5th-degree black belt. He taught karate in the Huron and Hartford areas for many years. One of his proudest accomplishments was teaching his senior ladies, all of whom earned a black belt. Arnie has served on the board of directors for the Salvation Army, held several officer positions in the Lions Club, and is a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. He was a very active volunteer for many organizations.
He loved golfing and watching his grandchildren in their activities. They affectionately called him Karate Grandpa, which he loved. If you spoke to Arnie for any length of time, you would have known how proud he was of his children and grandchildren, as he frequently talked about them. He will be truly missed by his many friends and family.
Arnie is survived by his daughter, Sherry (Jeff) Nelson of Crooks, and his son, A.J. (Janet) of Wichita, Kan.; grandchildren, Jason (Gena) Nelson of Harrisburg, Kaitlyn (Brendan) Tow of Thornton, Colo., Rachel Wilson of Wichita, Kan., and Katie (Sean) Malone of Wichita, Kan.; and great grandchildren, Johnathon Wilson, Kyzer and Kayson Malone. Arnie is also survived by his very special sister, Myrna Cunningham of Gainesville, Ga.; a special niece and nephew, Patty and Mike Fitzmaurice of Hartford, and many nieces and nephews who were all very dear to him.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Mary Lou Lusch; his parents; his in-laws; his brothers, Ordell and Ronald; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.
Cards of sympathy can be sent to: Sherry Nelson, 700 Executive Avenue, Crooks, SD 57020.
For additional information and the online guestbook, please visit www.MillerFH.com
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