She met George Edward Turner and later married him on January 5, 1950. Ed and Arlene lived near Yorkville, IL and had four children: Georgene, Renee, William and Kristine. In November of 1955, Ed was killed in a car-truck accident on his way home from work.
Later, Arlene married Everett Frank Staffeldt on September 1, 1956 and they lived in Naperville, IL. Everett adopted Arlene’s four children and they had two more sons: Brandt and Michael.
After Mike started grade school, Arlene began her education at North Central College in Naperville, IL, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Subsequently, she earned her Master of Education degree in cognitive thinking from National Lewis University, Evanston, IL.
Arlene began teaching biology and advanced biology at Naperville Central High School. She also taught Earth Sciences at Naperville North High School. Of special note was that she made distinct and positive impressions upon her students, and was voted “Female Teacher of the Year” most of the twenty one years she taught. In 2017, Arlene was inducted into the Naperville Central High School Hall of Fame for being an outstanding teacher. She was in tune with her students, matching the “cold pricklies” with the “warm fuzzies” to ensure participation in her classrooms, which sounded like pandemonium from the hallway. The school district allowed the students to choose their classes and instructors; and as a result, Mrs. Staffeldt’s classes always filled early. Her last speech before the graduating class and invitees of thousands produced a standing ovation.
Arlene and Everett retired in 1988 to a 185-acre property near Farmington, IL to pursue an interest in wildlife and habitat conservation. They planted tens of thousands of trees, reclaiming the land from coal mining and creating habitat for wildlife. In 2012, Everett and Arlene were awarded “Wildlife Landowner of the Year, Region 1” from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, in recognition of outstanding achievements in the development and promotion of wildlife habitat.
Technology always fascinated Arlene, so she learned how to use a computer, which facilitated communications with family, friends and students. She transcribed all her research on the Staffeldt Family Tree into digital form. She loved to read books and watch British mysteries.
Arlene was an outdoors girl too. Family vacations were in the mountains of Montana and North Woods of Wisconsin. She loved to fish, and her casting abilities were superb, producing giggles and laughter, as well as evening dinner. She even went deer hunting, collecting her first buck in 2010. In the 1960s, the family would hunt for fossils in Wyoming and her only admonition to her young children was, “Look out for scorpions!”
Arlene will be missed for her humor, her wisdom and her friendship. She knew no stranger, her door was always open to visitors. She was a remarkable woman, who was a strong, intelligent, competent, loving, and joyful individual.
Arlene is preceded in death by her parents, John and Helen Staffeldt; her siblings Eugene Staffeldt, Ruth Probst, Delbert Staffeldt; her husbands, Ed Turner and Everett Staffeldt. Her sister, Jo Ann Pfaff survives her as well as her children: Georgene and Bill Hawkins, Renee Staffeldt, Bill and Darlene Staffeldt, Kris and Bruce Ogonowski, Brandt Staffeldt and Ben Porter, and Mike Staffeldt, along with seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
No date has been set to formally celebrate Arlene’s life.
To leave an online condolence you may go to www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com
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