Life Sketch | Bruno Arkunsinski
February 2, 1923 - May 3, 2018
Bruno Arkusinski, a member of the Joshua Seventh-day Adventist Church in Joshua, Texas, was born on February 2, 1923, in Sulejow, Poland, to Stanislaw and Marianna Wenglarska Arkusinski. He had two brothers, Jozef and Kazimierz. When he was 18, he was taken by the Germans and worked on a farm throughout World War II.
After the war, Bruno immigrated to the United States and worked at Butler Brick Yard in Elgin, Texas. After some time, he traveled north and on this journey he attended a series of Polish Bible meetings in Chicago, Illinois. It was through these meetings that he gave his life to Jesus and was baptized on May 17, 1952. This began a lifelong friendship with God. The family would often see him reading his Bible and studying his Bible lesson. He was a faithful member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a strong supporter of Christian education.
While attending the Bible meetings, he met the minister’s daughter, Stephanie Klute, also an immigrant from Poland. An interest developed and their romance blossomed into marriage. Their wedding was on May 2, 1954. Both Bruno and Stephanie became citizens of the United States on March 1, 1960. While in Michigan, the family grew until it included five children: four boys and one girl.
In 1964, the family moved to Gentry, Arkansas. Bruno purchased a farm and worked at Brandom Kitchens during the day and then planted an orchard during the evenings. They greatly enjoyed the delicious fruit. After Brandom Kitchens burned, Bruno worked for a time at the La-Z-Boy Factory in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. It was during this time that he sold the first property and bought another farm where he lived for 40 years. On this farm he built his dairy business. Eventually he quit working at the factory and the milking business became the main focus. Later, after the cows had all been sold, he grew vegetables. He sold the produce at his vegetable stand, “The Bloomfield Garden Spot.”
In December 2007, Bruno and Stephanie moved to Burleson, Texas, to live with their daughter and her family. Bruno continued his love of gardening. Every spring a new garden would be planted and a variety of fresh vegetables was enjoyed.
Bruno passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 3, 2018, one day after his and Stephanie’s 64th wedding anniversary. He is predeceased by his parents, brothers, and a daughter-in-law. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Klute Arkusinski and their children, Andrew Edmund Arkusinski and wife, Lenora; Deborah Marie Arkusinski Smith and husband, Harold; Timothy Arkusinski and wife, Kimberly; James Stanley Arkusinski, widowed; and John Bruno Arkusinski and wife, Frances. There are also eleven grandchildren along with many other extended family members.