Geerlanda ‘Gerla’ Marijke Arndt

Aug. 28, 1948 - Oct. 11, 2009

Geerlanda ‘Gerla’ Marijke Arndt passed away peacefully Oct. 11, 2009, with her husband by her side. Born Aug. 28, 1948, in Arnhem, the Netherlands, Gerla was a world traveler at a young age, having been an au pair in Germany, Switzerland and England.

Being fluent in many languages and having a desire to see the world, she became a stewardess with KLM. She met her husband during one of her trips to Portugal, and after getting married in Roosendaal, the Netherlands, on Aug. 29, 1975, they set out to see the world together, living in the Middle East, Northern Africa and Europe. They eventually settled in the United States and raised three children in Waukesha, where Gerla became a devoted Mary Kay beauty consultant for 26 years. She was also active in church groups, Encore group, gourmet dinner groups and bridge parties. After moving to Green Valley, Ariz., with her husband 3 1/2 years ago, she continued her quest to meet new people by joining the Humming Birds group, bridge and mah jongg parties and pool aerobics. Gerla also learned new hobbies, such as Swedish weaving, which she continued until her last days.

Gerla is preceded in death by her parents Jan Gerrits Veening and Gerda Bartha Buddingh’.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Allen Arndt; daughter, Lieneke (Jason) Hafeman; son, Oscar Arndt; daughter, RenŽe (Shaun) Neubauer; and grandsons, Evan Hafeman and Liam Neubauer.

A memorial will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 424 Hyde Park Ave., Waukesha.

(Freeman - Nov. 7, 2009)