1937-2025

On August 29, 2025, at the age of 88, Gunther Arnold passed away following a fall, after a long courageous battle with heart disease. He faced his illness with great strength and dignity, and is now at peace. Gunther will be lovingly remembered by his partner Gisela Marler, his daughter Linda Arnold, his grandchildren Brian, Eric, Christopher, Kathleen and Andrew, and his great grandchildren, as well as other relatives and friends. He is predeceased by his devoted wife Betty and his son Dean.

Gunther Arnold was born in Zittau, Germany, on March 25, 1937, the youngest of three children. At just 18, he left Germany for Ontario, Canada, where he joined his cousin Richard to work on a farm. Before long, he moved on to Montreal, arriving with only $5 in his pocket and a determination to build a new life.

On July 5, 1958, in Schutt, Ontario, Gunther married the love of his life, Betty. Together, they raised two children, Linda and Dean.

Gunther was a hardworking and determined man. His persistence paid off when he co-founded Artistat, a business that eventually expanded to Toronto. After retiring, he pursued several projects, including creating Garderie Pierrefonds and building homes – among them his own retreat in upstate New York.

He was a high achiever with endless curiosity. As a boy, he loved to build and fly model airplanes, and later earned his pilot’s license, flying Betty to Florida and the Bahamas from Cedars Airport in Montreal. Like many in the Arnold family, he was also a passionate photographer, even running a small aerial photography business long before the days of drones.

Trained as a fine carpenter in Germany, Gunther crafted exquisite pepper mills from exotic woods, which still grace many family tables today.

For over 40 years, he was also a devoted beekeeper. In 2012, at age 75, he traveled to Bududa, Uganda, with hives and equipment packed in crates, where he taught beekeeping to the local community. His efforts later earned him recognition as CTV’s “Man of the Week.”

Gunther embraced adventure throughout his life. He enjoyed scuba diving (even under the ice in winter), water skiing, cross-country skiing, and hiking. He had a talent for playing piano mostly by ear, as well as accordion. Gunther held a deep affection for dogs and birds and tended to a beautiful, admired garden at his upstate New York home.

After Betty passed away in 1995, Gunther returned to Hudson, where he later met his partner, Gisela Marler. Together they shared more than 25 years of love and companionship.

Gunther lived a full and remarkable life. His sense of humour was infectious, and our home was always filled with laughter. He will be dearly missed and forever remembered.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation at Lakeshore Cardinal Funeral Home, 560 Lakeshore, Dorval, H9S 2B3, on Saturday, September 13 from 10 AM to 12 PM, immediately followed by a service in the funeral home’s chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bududa.org in support of the children of Bududa, Uganda.