Arlene Kemnitz

A memorial visitation for Arlene D. Kemnitz, 84, of Decatur, will be held on October 14 th , 2023 from 10:00am until the time of the memorial service at 12:00pm at Ahlgrim Family Funeral Services, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine. Inurnment will be held privately.

Arlene Dorothy Kemnitz passed away peacefully at her home in Decatur, IL on Sunday, October 1, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was born January 11, 1939, in Palatine, IL to the late Edwin H. and Olive (Hogrewe) Thurnau.

A devoted mother, grandmother, wife, sister, neighbor and friend, Arlene also took pride in her career, rising from secretary to Manager of Technical Data at Northrop Grumman, from which she retired in 2004. Previously, she worked for General Time, which manufactured timing devices for the Lunar Landing Program. Prior to that, she co-owned Delta Ambulance in Palatine. Having grown up on her family’s farm, Arlene never shied away from hard work or helping others.

Arlene is survived by her loving husband, Erwin, whom she married on June 6, 1958, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine; her three children, Edward (Jeanie) Kemnitz, Robert (Jennifer) Kemnitz, and Susan (James) Conn; her grandchildren Rebecca and Amanda Conn and Kristina Kemnitz; her brother, Edwin (Edith) Thurnau; two sisters, Shirley (Harold) Miller and Nancy (Paul) Zabel; her sister-in-law Lori Thurnau, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Olive Thurnau and her brother, Donald Thurnau.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Mayo Clinic, Rochester.