Arthur James Jacquart

DULUTH, Minn. - Arthur James Jacquart, 83, of Duluth, formerly of Ironwood, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, with his wife, Char; daughter, Joanne; and staff from Benedictine Healthcare Center in attendance.

Art was born in 1940 to Arthur and Edna Jacquart and was a graduate of Luther L. Wright High School in 1958 in Ironwood. Art was very active throughout high school; he was a member of JROTC and later joined the U.S. Army National Guard where he served for 11 years. He was passionate about music and wanted to be a music teacher. He played violin, and the string bass. He was also active in the drum and bugle corps as a drummer, bugler and drum major. He was the all-male choir director in Ironwood. He directed the church choir at St. Anthony's Catholic Church of Duluth. He was a member of the Barbershop Chorus and Barbershop Quartet.

Art met Charlene M. Rowe when they were in choir together at ages 16 and 14, respectively, and on Aug. 4, 1962, they were married. Art and Char moved to Duluth from Ironwood in November 1963, where they raised their three children in the lower Woodland neighborhood.

Family was extremely important to Art, he loved his wife of 60-plus years, and he was very proud of his three children and grandchildren.

Art held various positions in the auto parts industry starting in Ironwood, and ultimately was the former owner of Dave's Auto Parts in Spirit Valley Duluth.

Art was active in the Knights of Columbus and Lions Club, where he earned the Melvin Jones Award. He was currently holding the position of President of the Residence Council at BHC. Many young snowmobilers in Duluth attended snowmobile safety courses, as Art was state certified in snowmobile safety training. He was also a stroke survivors' counselor at many local hospitals. He was a fierce advocate for those with disabilities, especially stroke survivors as he survived several strokes himself.

He also loved camping, with the "Weenie Patrol" and "Cooler by the Lake," snowmobiling with the Drifttoppers Snowmobile Club, and hunting at his family cabin in Upper Michigan. He loved repairing small engines, including lawnmowers and snowblowers.

He was quite a storyteller and most of those stories revolved around his family and extended family; as well as many travels that were family trips, trips with Char, and the ones shared with friends and coworkers. These created campfire tales that would go on until he fell asleep, contemplating infinity....

Art was proceeded in death by his father, Arthur E. Jacquart; mother, Edna R. (Wisneski) Jacquart; and sister, Carol A. Jacquart.

He is survived by, his wife, Charlene (Rowe) Jacquart of 60-plus years; children, Janet (Brian) Becker, Joanne (Russ Borst) Lundberg and Jamie (Christina Febbroriello); grandchildren, Alyson Lundberg, Chase Becker, Alexander Jacquart, Nathaniel Jacquart, Liam Yurchick, Olivia Yurchick, Isabella Febbroriello and many honorary "sons and daughters;" and extended family including Richard and Georgene Grenfell and their family.

The family extends a special thank you to all the medical staff at all the hospitals and care facilities in the Duluth area. Especially those caregivers at Benedictine Healthcare Center for their love and special care, especially Mike Sandstrom.

Services will be held at St. Benedict's Catholic Church, 1419 St. Benedict St., in Duluth, on Saturday, Aug. 5, with a visitation at 10 a.m. and Mass at 11 a.m., followed by a lunch in the church basement.

The burial will be at Park Hill Cemetery, 2500 Vermilion Ave. in Duluth after the meal for those choosing to attend.

Arrangements are by Dougherty Funeral Home of Duluth.