- January 27, 2014
- 2:11 pm
- Patty Sheehy
Alum Joseph Arns: Extraordinary Vet, Businessman and Family Man
Joseph Arns pictured with his wife and seven children on the day of his graduation in 1958, in a photo from the New World Newspaper. The photo in the background is a picture of the graduates on Loyola’s campus. A total of 750 graduated that day.
This year marks the centennial year for adult education at Loyola and we are celebrating the anniversary by gathering stories of our alumni who want to share their Loyola experience, and how it has transformed their lives. SCPS changed its name a number of times but it has consistently served adult students.
The following bio came from the daughter of Joseph Arns, graduate from University College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After graduation, Joseph went on to lead a full and successful life at Zenith Radio and Television Corporation. Since we received his story, however, we were saddened to learn that he passed away. His full life is an example for many.
Joseph F. Arns, Sr. is an Army Air Copy veteran of World War II and served as a Flying Tiger in the CBI Theater (China, Burma, and India) from 1942-1946. He flew 256 combat missions as a Flying Tiger during his four years in the service. Read more about Arns’ army career here: http://www.journal-topics.com/lifestyles/article_4a02cb42-78bb-11e3-88f2-001a4bcf6878.html.
Joseph attended University College at Loyola for 11 years, beginning in 1947, on the GI Bill while working several jobs to support his growing family: he worked at Fire Brick as an office manager; at Midway airport as an air Route Traffic controller and freelanced doing taxes during tax season. In 1952, he began his career at Zenith Radio and Television Corporation.In 1958, Joseph graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. When he graduated, he had seven children. He continued his career at Zenith for 35 years. While he was at Zenith, he was promoted several times and when he retired in 1987, he was Vice President of Banking and Finance. His main job in that capacity was putting Zenith’s profits to work in various investment instruments.
Joseph and his wife, Marie, raised 11 children. His education afforded him the opportunity to financially support his family while allowing his wife to be home to raise the kids. He passed on his strong Catholic faith to his children and grandchildren. Truly the family patriarch, Joseph remains a loving presence in the lives of his children, 25 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.