Arnold "Arnie" Wellnitz

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Pastor Albert Meier will officiate, and burial will be held at a later date at Milbank City Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Arnold Ralph “Arnie” Wellnitz was born on October 28, 1948, at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Milbank, SD, to Ralph and Allkie (Blum) Wellnitz. One of six children, he grew up in and around the Milbank community. He was baptized on November 2, 1948, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Albee and later confirmed on February 25, 1968, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Milbank. After completing his education, he began working at Big Stone Cheese Factory in 1970.

On June 20, 1970, Arnie was united in marriage with Sharon Schmeichel at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank. The following year, in 1971, he began working at Big Stone Canning Factory. In 1973, he took a position at Hunter Granite Quarry, where he worked until the quarry closed in 1980. Later that year, in August 1980, Arnie began working at Dakota Granite Quarry until his retirement. Arnie was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Milbank.

In his spare time, he enjoyed mowing lawns and blowing snow. During nice weather, you could see Arnie and Sharon sitting outside in their lawn chairs, drinking coffee while watching and waving to folks as they drove by. Arnie was never afraid to start a conversation while in the grocery store, at the clinic, or following church services. For several years during the winter months, Arnie and Sharon lived in Watonga, OK, with their son, Terry. From there they would drive down to Fulshear, TX, to visit Tammy and her family for a week or two. Arnie could be found having his morning coffee while visiting with the customers at the Watonga café or at the local McDonald's.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Wellnitz of Milbank, SD; his children: Lee Wellnitz of Milbank, SD; Dean (Tiffany) Wellnitz of Milbank, SD; Tammy (Jason) Wojahn of Fulshear, TX; and Kelly Dockter of Willow Lake, SD; nine grandchildren; sister, Joyce (Floyd) Hermans of Milbank, SD; brother, Earl (Marlys) Wellnitz of Greeley, CO; sisters-in-law: Sandy (Dale) Wellnitz of Milbank, SD; Carol (Donny) Wellnitz of Norwood/Young America, MN; and Margie (Rick “Cowboy”) Wellnitz of Milbank, SD; brothers-in-law: Loren (Rita) Schmeichel of Milbank, SD; and Dick (Linda) Schmeichel of Milbank, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Ralph and Allkie (Blum) Wellnitz; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Walter and Olga (Klepel) Schmeichel; sons: Brian and Terry Wellnitz; brothers: Rick, Donnie and Dale; and sisters-in-law: Joan Bowers and Gerri Schmeichel.

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