Obituary for Arthur Woodrow Amsk, 91
Arthur Woodrow Amsk.
–Arthur Woodrow Amsk was born in Livingston, MT on December 28, 1927. He passed away in Atascadero, CA on March 12. He was 91. He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Florence Amsk; brother William; sisters Lucille, Retha, and Arlene; wife Margaret Eva Beck, and step-children David and Laura.
Arthur grew up during the Great Depression and learned to fish and hunt at an early age. He spent many teenage years at the Taylor Ranch and hunted the nearby hills. He was an avid hunter and fisherman throughout his life, and for the last 20 years in California he started enjoying his retirement when he met his friend and hunting partner Eldon Bergman. They had many hunting and fishing adventures. It was a great moment when Arthur shot a 25-lb wild turkey.
He served his country in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper from around 1947 to 1949. He worked on a ranch near Wilsall, MT, and went into business with his brother with a small sawmill, and worked in sawmills near Great Falls, MT. He had many stories about his adventures with cousin Harold Marchington and friend Jack Taylor. When Arthur’s brother-in-law Joe Pray found work on the naval base in China Lake, CA, Arthur and wife Esther moved to the base. Arthur got in the apprenticeship program as an electronic technician and worked on many projects important to the defense of the U.S. Navy. Living in the desert was tough for a man who loved the forest and mountain air, and he left California to start several businesses and work for Whites Electronics in Sweet Home, Oregon. In 1981 he returned to China Lake, and worked until retirement in 1990. He met his second wife, Margaret Eva, while attending church in Ridgecrest.
In 1954 Arthur became a Christian and attended many churches over 65 years, including the Foursquare church in Ridgecrest, Full Gospel Fellowship/Grace Chapel in Mountain Mesa, and the Atascadero First Assembly. Due to his knowledge of the Bible, he was a leader often elected to service as an elder or deacon. He was loved and respected by his church community and for his advice at men’s retreats. He had many great friends in Atascadero, including Chuck Sites. Arthur lived by the proverb of “Honor your father and your mother, that it may go well with you.” He particularly liked to bless his food with proverbs concerning wellness. Not long before his death, he quoted a scripture about hope and eternal life.
As a widower, in 1998 Arthur met Colleen Davis. They were married at the Full Gospel Fellowship in Lake Isabella on Valentine’s Day, and they had 20 happy years together in Paso Robles, Atascadero, and Lake Isabella. They were members of the Atascadero First Assembly for 20 years. They had a heart for healing ministries and prayed for many at the healing rooms and hospitals on the Central Coast.
Arthur is survived by wife, Colleen, son Allyn, step-children Trudy, Steve, and Truman; and step-children Margaret, Wayne, Paula, Joanna, Rosemary, Christina, Mark, Priscilla, and Druscilla from his marriage with Eva. He has many nieces and nephews, including Robin, Bruce, Mark, David, Nick, Mike, Richard, Gail and Rex. In addition, Dana Brownell, a close friend of the Davis family.
On the morning of Friday, March 22 a viewing will take place from 9-11 a.m. at the Chapel of The Roses. A private burial will follow for the family members.
A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, March 23rd at the Atascadero First Assembly. The service will start at 1 followed by a reception at the church.
A Memorial service is planned at a later date in the Lake Isabella area for Art’s friends and family.
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