Obituary of Louis Rock Arseneau

Louis Rock Arseneau passed away Monday, August 25, 2014 after a courageous and dignified battle with cancer at home with family by his side. Louis was born February 26, 1932 in St. Wenceslas Quebec Canada, the son of Ubald Joseph Arseneault and Clair Caroline Arseneault. He was predeceased by his wife of 30 years, Roswitha Anna Maria Margareta (Pompl) Arseneau in 1991 and by his middle son, Louis Richard Arseneau (“Richard”) in 2013. He is survived by his eldest son, James R. Arseneau and his wife Barbara of Belfast, Maine; and his youngest son Christian Frederik ("Fritz") Arseneau and his wife, Jennifer of Newton, New Hampshire. Lou is also survived by five grandchildren who he adored; Anna C. Arseneau of Nashua, New Hampshire; Elizabeth J. (Arseneau) Wood and her husband Andrew of Hampden, Maine; Alexander J. Arseneau of Portland, Maine; Katherine R. Arseneau and Penelope J. Arseneau; both of Newton, New Hampshire. Lou was orphaned at age four and was placed in an orphanage in Nicolet, Quebec Canada until age nine. He was able to spend two summers working at an uncle's farm and it was during these two summers he formed a lifelong love for all animals, domestic and wild. He was especially fond of dogs and owned a dog most of his adult life. At age nine, his great-aunt Carmelle (Carmen) Arseneau arranged for him to live with her in New York City, New York. Carmen raised Lou as her own son and he affectionately referred to her as "Mom". At age 18, he moved back to Canada to work for his Uncle Florent who owned an automotive garage. There he learned the skills that made him an excellent auto mechanic, which was his occupation for most of his life. He then moved to Miami Florida and lived there for several years, enjoying the sun and scuba diving. In his mid-twenties he enrolled in the Army and was stationed in Bad Cannstatt, Germany from December 1959 to 1962. He met and married a smart, lively and lovely German named Roswitha. In 1961, their first son, James was born. After returning with his small family to the States in 1962 and living in New York City with his Aunt Carmen, their second son, Richard was born in 1963. In 1964, they moved to Hooksett, New Hampshire and their third son, Fritz joined the family in 1970. There were many happy times playing in the woods behind the house, swimming in the family pool, fishing, riding dirt bikes and snowmobiles, hiking Mt. Washington, and several family trips to Germany to visit relatives. In his early thirties, Lou remembered what he had been taught about the Bible while being raised by Carmen and resumed his Bible studies, with Roswitha and the boys joining him. He was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1965 and attended congregations in Concord and Manchester, New Hampshire and finally in Belfast, Maine where he was the beloved patriarch of the house with son Jim's family for 14 years. Lou believed strongly what Revelation 21:3, 4 says that in the near future, “…death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more,” and he enjoyed sharing this message of hope with others in his weekly ministry for over 50 years. Lou drew great comfort and strength from God’s Word and firmly believed in the resurrection hope. Lou is greatly missed and fondly remembered by his family and friends as a loving husband, father and grandfather, an avid reader of the Bible, a history buff, a fascinating storyteller, for his love of Germany, his beautiful rock walls and gardens, his fabulous apple and blueberry-peach pies and his great affection for animals. He was an intelligent, well-read man with a dry sense of humor. A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 20, 2014 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 353 Belmont Avenue, Belfast Maine. Arrangements were provided by Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast Maine 04915.