Arlene (McCutchen) Cates, age 83, died Thursday, September 21, 2017, at Chaska Heights Senior Living, after facing dementia for many years. She was a longtime resident of the Prior Lake Community.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Tuesday, September 26, from 4:00 –7:00 PM, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation 4565 Pleasant St. SE, Prior Lake. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, September 27, at 11:00 AM with a visitation one-hour prior, both at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16311 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake. Father Tom Walker will preside. Pall bearers will be Matt Cates, Sarah Cates-Keller, Danny Cates, Joline Schmaltz-Koosman, Katie Cates and Kevin Ryan. Arlene will be laid to rest at St. Michael Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in her memory by the family.

Born October 11, 1933, in Madelia, MN, to parents, Clark and Faye (Trullinger) McCutchen, Arlene was the second oldest of their six children. At age 10, she moved from the Madelia-St. James area to Prior Lake, where in 5th grade Arlene met the love of her life John “Jack” Cates. Arlene had petite good looks and was given to giggles. He was friendly with dark hair and smiling blue eyes. They were inseparable from the start and wed on November 22, 1952. Each came from large families and Arlene and Jack quickly made a houseful of their own, welcoming two daughters and four sons.

Arlene and Jack’s years together were happy. Although not wealthy, they crisscrossed the country, often on one of Jack’s whims. He’d come through the back door at the end of a workday and say: “Arlene, let’s pack the car. We’re going to !” and off they went, the car jammed with kids, toys, and snacks. Those wild trips, along with many boisterous family parties, were memories Arlene cherished after Jack’s sudden death in June 1983. But, her adventurous spirit never dimmed. Arlene continued traveling with family (often her sisters) and friends throughout the U.S. and to Jamaica and Canada. She was always ready to see something new.

After Jack’s death, Arlene returned to the workforce using her learned skills tending to a large and hungry family. She joined the kitchen staff of Prior Lake’s Five Hawks Elementary School. A wonderful home cook, it was natural Arlene would become the school’s baker, a position she held until her retirement.

Left to mourn Arlene are her children, Timothy Cates, Jacqueline Cates (Johnny Burgess), Thomas (Pam) Cates, Josephine (Curt) Schmaltz, John Cates II (Carolyn Weber) and Joel Cates (Jeff Melby), daughter-in-law, Wendy Cates-Dancer; grandchildren, Christine Cates, Robert Mills, Matthew Cates, Sarah Cates-Keller, Heather Mills-Chase, Joline Schmaltz-Koosmen, Katie Cates and Danny Cates; great-grandchildren, Colton, Daniel, Jaxon and Ruth Ann; siblings, Ramona Ries, Maureen (Bob) Schneiderhan, Wayne McCutcheon, Karen Lund and Bruce (Margaret) McCutchen; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Kathleen (Henry) Schrader, Bill Cates, Jim (Pat) Cates, Larry (Betty) Cates; many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Arlene was preceded in death by her loving husband John “Jack” Cates; mother, Faye (Trullinger) McCutchen; brothers-in law and sisters-in-law, Donna Cates, Rosie (George “Spike”) Muelken, Anna Mae (Pete) Ryan, Jerry Regan, Joseph Ries and Mert Lund.

Thanks to caregivers at Chaska Heights, Brighton Hospice and Visiting Angels, who were all wonderful caregivers to our mom and our family.

The Cates family was cared and served by Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, Prior Lake Chapel. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com

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