Arthur Kjome, 91

Dr. Arthur Kjome, of Antigo, died Friday, May 15, 2015 at Evergreen Terrace. He was 91 years old. He was born on April 8, 1924 in Jackson County, a son of Olaf and Inga (Olson) Kjome. He married Lorraine (Seiler) on March 23, 1946 at Osseo. She preceded him in death on September 20, 1989.

He moved to Osseo as a child and graduated from Lincoln Hill High School in Osseo with the class of 1942. Following graduation he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in the Ninth Air Corps in England and Europe during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

After service he moved to Eau Claire where he worked at Presto Industries and attended the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire for two years. Art graduated from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee in 1952.

He moved to Antigo and began an Optometric practice in 1953, a business that became Antigo Vision Clinic. His son Rick joined the clinic in 1974 and Art retired in 1990. He lived in Mesa, Arizona for a number of years after retirement and returned to Antigo June 16, 2013.

Dr. Kjome was a member of the American Optometric Association and the Wisconsin Optometric Association and was honored as a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry.

As an active community member he was past president of Antigo Little League, served as a Boy Scout Leader, was a board member of the Antigo Area Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycee and Kiwanis clubs of Antigo. He also was a member of the Leland-Tollefson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2653-Antigo and the Sparks-Doernenburg American Legion Post 3-Antigo. Art served as president and was a member of Antigo Bass Lake Country Club. He had been a member and Elder of Peace Lutheran Church Antigo, where he assisted with the radio broadcast of Sunday services.

Survivors include two daughters, Kathy (Rene "Yogi") LaHam, Deerbrook, Peggy Kjome and friend Rob Brancel of Chanhassen, Minnesota; three sons, Rick (Mary "Mag") Kjome, Elcho, Gary Kjome, Anchorage, Alaska, David (Lisa) Kjome, Southport, NC; six grandchildren Michael (Julie) LaHam, Nels (Sara) Kjome, Greta (Cal) Diercks, Heather Haugen, Ashley and Abby Kjome; five great-grandchildren Izabella, Nathan and Logan LaHam, Evelyn Kjome and Edward Diercks.

In addition to his wife and parents he was preceded in death by one great-granddaughter Helena Kjome and a brother-in-law, Harold Seiler.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday May 23, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at Bradley Funeral Home with Rev. David Karolus officiating. Committal services will follow at Elmwood Cemetery where Antigo Veterans will conduct military rites. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home.