Arthur Mcwhite Jr.

Arthur Wallace McWhite Jr, age 76, passed away peacefully on November 7th at the Collier Lutheran Hospice in Wheatridge Colo. He was a graduate of Brainerd High School in Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, he served in the army during the Viet Nam War. He had two children Bryan and Jill with his then wife Sandra Weiss. He attended Brainerd Junior College and worked three jobs as a radio DJ, school bus driver and had a milk delivery route. They divorced and Art moved to Colorado where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in education at CU Denver and later a Computer Science Degree from Regis University in Denver. He met and married his wife of 33 years Anne Luebcke raising their son Joseph in Colorado. During his lifetime, he taught high interest high ability students, outdoor education, opened the first computer store in Brainerd Minnesota and owned and operated his own hot- air balloon business “Adventures Aloft.”

Arthur had so many interests and shared that passion with all he knew. He so loved the game of cribbage; carried a board and set of cards wherever he went. Art was a bird watcher from an early age when his Aunt Hilda introduced him to bird watching. Flying was a big part of his life, and he joined the Arvada Associated Modelers eagerly demonstrating his skills flying the gas and electric powered planes he built over the years with his friends from the club. Prior to the planes, he would be hang-gliding off the mountains in Golden Colorado. Anyone raised in the Brainerd Lake area, can appreciate how boating was a big part of his life. Sailboats became a passion he shared with everyone making sure his son Joseph could expertly sail. Art enjoyed all boats making the canoe his gateway to adventure in the Boundary Water Canoe Area where he shared weekend getaways filled with happy memories with his brothers and family. Being a very curious man, he turned his sights to the skies. With five telescopes on hand, he brought his knowledge of astronomy to his family. Many a night was spent setting up telescopes to view the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter.  He brought a connection with space that has kept us all enthralled with planet earth. The concept of square foot gardening took hold with precise planting for maximum output with an overabundance of vegetables. Art loved to share how and why this method was so successful; he was always a teacher at heart.  Garage sales provided that enticing hunt for a unique or much needed bargain item. Geocaching with friends provided countless hours of hiking all over the country while learning so much history and appreciating the pride of finding that cleverly hidden prize. Art had quite a command of mechanics and his knowledge base anchored his family with the assurance that there was not anything he could not fix. His passion for problem solving started early in life as a young child when he would take apart clocks and appliances and then put them back together. Stationed in Germany during the Viet Nam war, Art played a critical role as one of the few who possessed the skills to fix the massive generators needed to protect western Germany from the Russians.   Art possessed the critical thinking skills that directed his life in so many directions as his innate curiosity enveloped his entire being. As a school bus driver for Brainerd schools, he loved to tell the story of his encounter with UFOs in the predawn hours on the deserted country road. He enjoyed writing of his adventures he experienced and shared them freely with the story telling group at the Stanley Lake Library. One of his favorites took place in Great Bend Texas where he met a fellow hiker taking pictures of the area. Imagine not knowing you were giving photography tips to the famous photographer Ansel Adams!

One of the last things that Art expressed over and over was his gratefulness for all his family members, and most notably how proud he was of his three children Bryan, Jill, and Joseph; all established in life with a sense of purpose and direction.

Art is survived by his wife, Anne, their son Joseph and his children Bryan and Jill of Minnesota. He is also survived by his sisters Jean, Mary and Elizabeth and brother Tom along with his many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Art was proceeded in death by his brother John and parents Art and Delores McWhite.

Art’s celebration of life will be held November 25th, 2022 at 1pm at the Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 W. 80th Avenue, Arvada CO.. His ashes with later be interred at Ft. Snelling Cemetery in Minnesota where all the veterans in his family are laid to rest.

Please share memories of Arthur and condolences with his family by visiting the tribute wall.