She leaves sons Jim Musec (wife Susie), Doug Musec (wife Glenda), Dale Musec, and Jeff Musec (wife Stacey), and eight grandchildren.
Arlene was born on July 19, 1931 in Germantown, IL, daughter of Bernard and Evelyn Buenemeyer. Bernard earned the family income as an employee of the Cahokia race track, as a sole proprietor with his landscape nursery businesses, and as a politician within the Republican Party in the state of Illinois. Arlene graduated from Aviston Community High School in 1948.
Arlene met Ralph Musec in an ice cream parlor in New Baden, IL. Ralph was wearing his military uniform, and folklore tells us Arlene said, “Here’s a salute to you, soldier.” Arlene later skated, on steel wheeled skates, from Germantown to New Baden to see Ralph. They attended dances in New Baden, and when Ralph asked Arlene to dance, Arlene just knew “We fit together.” Ralph and Arlene were blessed with 66 years of marriage.
Ralph and Arlene married on June 17, 1950 at St. Boniface Church in Germantown. They spent their honeymoon in Colorado Springs, CO. They moved their family to Belleville, IL in 1955 and became founding members of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish. St. Augustine served as the hub of their religious and social lives. Friendships grew through the Confraternity of Christian doctrine held at individual homes.
Arlene worked as an administrative assistant at Scott Air Force Base shortly after their marriage. She later operated strawberry farms in Centralia, IL in order to send her boys to Catholic schools. Operating the strawberry farms meant living and working for up to four weeks a year in an isolated, rural environment, without telecommunication, air conditioning, potable water, nearby neighbors, or nearby healthcare services.
Arlene enjoyed raising her sons, cooking, camping, shopping the Kmart blue light specials, roaming the malls, dressing smartly, building friendships, practicing the Catholic Religion, and on occasion racing other drivers from intersections.
We will dearly miss you, Mom.
Memorials: Memorials may be made to St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Services: A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL. with Msgr. William McGhee officiating. Entombment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Belleville, IL.