Robert Arnold's Obituary
ROBERT A. (BOB) ARNOLD
On September 18, 2024, our family lost our scientist, engineer, creative problem solver, teller of stories and giver of life lessons. Robert Arthur Arnold (Bob) died after a brief illness at age 86 in Carlsbad, California with Dianne, his wife of nearly 60 years, his daughter Dawn and his son Jeff at his side.
Bob was born January 14, 1938, to Celeste Imogene Roberts in Fargo, North Dakota. Byron Fred Arnold married Celeste and adopted Bob. They lived in Jamestown, North Dakota, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, while Bob was growing up. On his mother’s family farm, Bob learned about mechanics and farming from his five uncles. Byron was instrumental in encouraging Bob’s love of “how things worked.” They built
houses together in Jamestown while Bob was attending Jamestown College (now Jamestown University). Bob graduated in 1960 with a BS in Chemistry. As a new college graduate, Bob started his career as a hearing aid salesman in North Dakota. Listening to his heart, he knew this was not going to be his ticket to happiness, so he headed to Minneapolis for a job in research at General Mills.
While working toward an M.S. in Organic Chemistry at the University of Minnesota, Bob joined the 3M
Company in St Paul as a Research Scientist. In 1964, he met and found instant chemistry with Dianne
Ekberg, an undergrad at the University of Minnesota. They were married that same year. Both continued
their studies and graduated in 1966.
At 3M, Bob was responsible for the development of the early magnetic tapes that went to the moon with
NASA, as well as video tapes used for the first recordings of television shows allowing for replays and
reruns of shows. By 1986 the magnetic tape business had matured, and 3M was exiting the business.
This transition allowed Bob to follow his other passion which was real estate.
Bob founded Lakewood Enterprises and started buying properties that needed major TLC. He
understood mechanical systems, design, and how to stretch a nickel until it shrieked. As the real estate
portfolio grew, son Jeff joined the business after college and today Jeff manages Lakewood Enterprises.
Bob thoroughly enjoyed passing on his knowledge to Jeff, Dawn, and other young people who worked
for him over the years. He was a stickler for making sure they had proper tools & knew how to use them.
Bob and Dianne lived in St Paul, Minnesota for many years, participating in community events and
enjoying traveling the world with friends. They visited all seven continents at least once, making four
trips to southern Africa for photography safaris.
Bob and Dianne’s California chapter began in 1999 with the birth of their first grandchild in San Diego.
Bob and Dianne loved being grandparents and came to enjoy the laid-back life in Southern California,
spending the past 25 years living between Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota and Encinitas, California. Of
course, Bob couldn’t be in California without a bit of real estate to keep him busy.
Bob is survived by his wife Dianne, daughter Dawn Phleger, son Jeff Arnold (Catherine Neuschler),
grandchildren Max Phleger (Annabelle) and Skye Nicholson (Chad). The biggest gift of all was the arrival
of great-granddaughter Margot Victoria Phleger on the day before Bob died. He saw photos and
expressed his wonder. The circle of life played out for our family in full living color. He is also survived by several cousins, his sister-in-law, brother-in-law and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents, his parents-in-law, a brother-in-law, his uncles and several close friends. Celebrations of Bob Arnold’s life will be held on November 23, 2024, at the Pool & Yacht Club in St Paul, MN, and on January 25, 2024, in Encinitas, CA. Please email [email protected] for details.
If you are inclined to be charitable in Bob’s memory, we invite you to consider:
• Hospice of the North Coast
2525 Pio Pico Drive Suite 301, Carlsbad, CA 92008 www.hospicenorthcoast.org
• UC San Diego Foundation, Research for a Cure of Pancreatic Cancer (designate Fund #4214),
https://giveto.ucsd.edu/giving/home/gift-referral/35901447-2d4e-430e-ade2-81c6908ca509
or mail to Robert Arnold Tributes, UCSD Foundation, 9500 Gilman Drive #0940, La Jolla, CA
92093
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
2920 Zoo Drive San Diego CA 92101 www.sdzwa.org
• Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
1954 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104 www.tchabitat.org/donate
Greenwood Mortuary and Crematory, https://www.greenwoodmemorial.com/obituaries
What’s your fondest memory of Robert?
What’s a lesson you learned from Robert?
Share a story where Robert's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Robert you’ll never forget.
How did Robert make you smile?
