Arthur 'Art' Eller

Arthur ‘Art’ Eller, 84 year old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Friday, January 15, 2016 at the St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN with Father Jeremy Ploof officiating. A visitation will be held from 4-7 P.M. on Tuesday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN and from 10:30 - 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Arthur Joseph Eller was born on April 20, 1931 in Pierz, MN to the late Lewis and Susan (Preiner) Eller. He grew up in Pierz, MN where he attended Fr. Pierz Catholic Grade School and graduated from Little Falls High School. He was united in marriage to Marci Steckly on June 27, 1980 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in East Grand Forks, MN. Starting at an early age, Art apprenticed in his grandfather William’s harness business in Pierz, MN alongside his uncle Ben and father Lewis. This was interrupted by the U.S Army where he served his country from June of 1953 until his honorable discharge in April of 1955. Upon his discharge, Art returned to Pierz and continued to learn the harness business. Art was a third generation harness maker, which began in 1893 when his grandfather William built Eller’s Harness Shop. After his father’s death in 1959, Art bought a farm near Freedhem, MN and relocated the harness business where it remains today. Art always had an interest in draft horses stating, “I’ve always had horses in my blood”. He purchased his first registered Percheron mare and stallion in 1953 and has stated the breed is, “sharp, alert, spirited, and faster learning than most other breeds”. In addition to raising and showing his own horses under the Pine Hill Percherons name, he traveled to county fairs throughout the Midwest and Canada to serve as a judge for draft horses, including the World Percheron Congress in 1994. Art was a long-time member of the Percheron Horse Association of America and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1997. In recent years he continued to work full-time in the harness business and part-time in the outdoor furnace business until his death. Art was a very hard working, kind man that had a very strong faith in the Lord and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN. Art was beloved by many including his wife, Marci Eller of Little Falls, MN; children, Evelynn Eller of Cumming, GA, Emmett Eller of St. Paul, MN, Jeanette (Andrew) Eller Watland of Pierz, MN, Katie (Joel) Svensk of Minneapolis, MN and Craig Baglien of Chicago, IL; grandchildren, Gabriel Brisuda, Daniel Brisuda, Cory Watland, Zach (Wendy) Svensk, Amy Svensk, and Molly Svensk; great-grandson, Jace Svensk; sisters, Eleanor Seelen, Betty Morrissette, Joan Schmidtbauer and Janet (Norman) Schommer; and many special nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Art was preceded in death by parents, Lewis and Susan Eller; brothers, Jerome and Earl Eller; and sister, Florene Boser.

Tributes

Arthur 'Art' Eller

April 20, 1931 - January 15, 2016