Arnie Edward Besonen

Arnie Edward Besonen, age 81 of Port Austin, Michigan passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday morning, April 2, 2026.  He was born on May 17, 1944 in Lansing, Michigan to Arne & Kathleen (Puumala) Besonen.  

He was 100% Finnish and made sure everyone knew it-was raised on a farm in the UP and graduated from Trout Creek HS. He went on to play football at Northern Michigan University where he met then married his wife Nadene (Riehl) on August 27, 1966. He earned a Masters in Education from CMU as he began teaching and coaching in Deckerville before he made his name as a teacher and all-sport coach for 30 years at Owendale-Gagetown HS. He was a past president of the MHSAA-FCA, coached the East team in the HS All-Star Football game, received multiple Coach of the Year awards and was inducted into the MHSAA Football Coaches Hall of Fame- that award is displayed at the University of Michigan Big House where he always hoped it will show even a small town kid can have big success.  With the little spare time he did have- he and Nadene were part-time EMTs, he was a member of the Port Austin Council, Fire Board, Lions Club, American Legion Post 499, Goodfellows and even coached little league and Babe Ruth baseball.  If he wasn’t in any of those places, you’d find him in the boom truck cutting trees during daylight or picking and grinning as an absolute legend on the guitar at night with The Lighthouse or another one of his bands.  He spent his “retirement” years working side jobs and teaching his grandkids how to play guitar, drive tractor and cars (left-handed so they could hold their ice cream cones) and the art of deer camp in the UP. 

He is preceded in death by Nadene- his wife of 57 years and 2 brothers, Jake & Dennis.  Arnie is survived by 3 children & 6 grandchildren:  Graham (Tammy) Besonen of Anoka, Minnesota & their children Andrew & Bennett; Sarah (Bjorn) Johnson of Fremont & their children Taava, Bjorn, & Sven; Andrew (Christie) Besonen of Wales Township, MI & son Gabriel.  He is also survived by his brothers & sister:  Stan Besonen, Donald Besonen, Darrell Besonen, Muriel (Russ) Kangas, Bryan (Carol) Besonen, David (Jill) Besonen; and by many nieces, nephews, & cousins.  A private family service will be held at a later date this summer with burial in Agate Cemetery, Trout Creek- followed by a public celebration of Arnie’s life on that same date with a location to be determined.  In lieu of donations the family asks that you support your local school by attending one of their sporting or music events.  You can sign the online guest book at www.kroeze-wolffis.com.  Arrangements are by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc. of Fremont.

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