Jean Arel

Jean Raymond Arel was born on November 19, 1941 in Crookston, MN and passed at 10pm, March 27, 2021 at Bethany Nursing Home, age 79. He is the son of Lawrence and Millie (Lassard) Arel. He attended St. Michael’s grade school and St. James High School. Jean was active in football, swimming and diving. He spent his summers as a lifeguard at Riverside Park Pool. He also worked at Home Of Economy in Grand Forks in 1963 where he met his future bride Sheila (Bliven) Arel. They dated for 2 years before marrying on August 2, 1965.

Jean graduated from UND in 1964 with a degree in elementary education. He took his first teaching position in Port Hueneme, CA. Soon after they became pregnant, and returned to Grand Forks, ND. where their 1st son David was born on July 17, 1966, which was also grandpa Lawrence’s birthday. Jean worked for the Great Northern Railroad for a short time until moving to East Grand Forks where he taught at Crestwood Elementary. A short time later, they returned to Grand Forks and bought their 1st home where he worked as a Vocational Evaluator at the UND rehab center for a couple years. Their second son, Steve, was born April 23, 1968. In 1970, Jean and family moved to Wahpeton where Jean entered the Electronics program at NDSCS. Upon graduation, as they were packing to return to Grand Forks (again), he was offered a position teaching 8th grade at the Circle of Nations School. Jean remained with the Circle of Nations for the next 10 years.

He enjoyed playing softball, spending time with his children, building a business, riding motorcycle, time at the lake, and walking. He especially enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. Jean and Sheila were quite entrepreneurial and worked hard at growing an apartment business. Jean was very handy and intelligent, learned quickly, and could fix nearly everything. Jean quit teaching to focus on growing and maintaining their businesses. During that time he worked at the beet plant for a year until he was offered a position at Gate City Bank as branch manager, which he held for 12 years until his retirement at age 55. They continued to work at their apartments until moving to Fargo in 2010. Jean was provisionally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2007.

Jean and Sheila stayed busy in many ways. They spent time taking care of foster children, grand children, jet skiing, snow skiing, motorcycling, and many excursions with their children. He enjoyed camping, traveling, and participating in a few service organizations, including the Optimist Club, and The United Way. He was active in his church and was a well respected member of the community. Jean always made time to help others and had many dear friends.

For Jean, Chocolate and Pizza were their own food groups. Also, among his favorite foods were Dave’s monster cookies and Steve’s enchiladas. He always had a stash of candy hidden in various locations in his home.

Jean was affectionately known as “Grandpa Owie”. He frequently got hurt in the funniest and strangest of ways. He was famous for new and creative ways to get himself into the emergency room. Some of his gifts from his grandchildren included animal themed bandages. Jean used duct tape and cotton balls when he couldn’t find bandages. One of Jean’s “buck-list” items was skydiving, which he and Sheila were able to cross from the list in 2013. (Thankfully, this occurred without incident)

In 2016, Jean entered Touchmark’s assisted living unit. A year later Jean entered a higher level of care at Touchmark and was very well cared for by staff and family, and finally with the aid of Hospice. Jean passed away at Bethany following a rapid decline after a stroke. Jean passed away very peacefully with his family surrounding him at 10pm, May, 27th, 2021.

Jean survived by his wife of 55 years, Sheila (Bliven) Arel, Fargo. 2 Sons, Dave Arel (Deb Bakko), Fargo, Steve Arel, Horace. Grandchildren, Jordan Arel, Abby Arel, Jean Luke Arel, and Nathan Arel-Keller (Avery). 2 sisters, Yvonne Kreis and Margaret Kendall.