Arthur "Art" Robert Montsinger

Arthur Robert Montsinger May 16, 1943 - June 8, 2018

Born to Nellie Maude (Haight) and Alfred William Montsinger in Portland, Oregon. Survived by brothers: Paul, Kenneth and Sam. Raised in the San Fernando Valley, CA, his first job, age 8, was newspaper delivery for the Mirror Daily News. At 12, he cooked for Big Taco and at 17, he joined the US Army and spent 3 years as the private chef for the General in Bodenheim, Germany. In January 1964, he was hired by Carol Lynn Heetland to head the stockroom of the Topanga Plaza May Company. When they married, due to company policy, she had to fire him and he began a career with General Motors. He began as a janitor in Van Nuys assembly plant, transferred to GM Parts Division as warehouse supervisor in 1974, remaining with the Western Division as District Sales Manager until 2002. He had worked with every Los Angeles and Orange County GM Dealership during this time. Retiring from GM allowed him to move to Bakersfield, working for 3 Way Chevrolet as a Commercial and Fleet Consultant. He was a five-time Consultant of the Year including 2017 and was still employed at the time of his death. Besides GM, Art also had a lifetime teaching credential and taught at Cerritos College for ten years and was a Wardrobe Consultant for J C Penny for 15 years. Art and Carol have two daughters, Heidi (Thomas) Tully and Nicole, three grandchildren: Amanda (Ryan) Stevens, Adam Tully (Holly Hager) and Allie (Tylor) Yates and three great-grandchildren: Rowdy and Reese Yates and Jackson Ryan Stevens. He was predeceased by Jackson on January 10, 2018. As Allie wrote; "we lost our biggest supporter, best gramps and most kind-hearted guy, who always put others first, especially his family." Nicole says that her Dad is in Heaven, floating on clouds in his Hawaiian shirt and shorts, talking to everyone, holding Jackson and playing with his dogs. During his illness, adjectives people wrote to him: " generous, kind, welcoming, host with the most, story teller, cook, extremely patient, dog lover, big hearted, true mentor, protective, steadfast, accepting, steady force, rock of the family, good man, military role model, a true GM Man, incredibly hard working, Godfather to many, open, professional, Santa Claus, ultimate salesman, always had shined shoes and sharp ties, pleasant, true friend, compassionate, bacon lover, and loving father, grandfather and husband." Art was the grandson of a Baptist Preacher, a Presbyterian Elder for 30 years and supporter of many other churches. As John 3:15 states, "That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." What we know is that God has called one of the good guys home and we will all see him again at the right hand of our Heavenly Father. Graveside service at 9:15 AM, June 15, Bakersfield National Cemetery. Celebration of Life at 6 PM June 15, 2018. Please call for directions. Officiant: Major David Ebel Salvation Army In Lieu of flowers, please donate to Kern County Cancer Fund Media Jam or New Advances for People with Disabilities, CCA in Bakersfield

Arthur Robert Montsinger
May 16, 1943 - June 8, 2018

Born to Nellie Maude (Haight) and Alfred William Montsinger in Portland, Oregon. Survived by brothers: Paul, Kenneth and Sam. Raised in the San Fernando Valley, CA, his first job, age 8, was newspaper delivery for the Mirror Daily News. At 12, he cooked for Big Taco and at 17, he joined the US Army and spent 3 years as the private chef for the General in Bodenheim, Germany. In January 1964, he was hired by Carol Lynn Heetland to head the stockroom of the Topanga Plaza May Company. When they married, due to company policy, she had to fire him and he began a career with General Motors. He began as a janitor in Van Nuys assembly plant, transferred to GM Parts Division as warehouse supervisor in 1974, remaining with the Western Division as District Sales Manager until 2002. He had worked with every Los Angeles and Orange County GM Dealership during this time. Retiring from GM allowed him to move to Bakersfield, working for 3 Way Chevrolet as a Commercial and Fleet Consultant. He was a five-time Consultant of the Year including 2017 and was still employed at the time of his death. Besides GM, Art also had a lifetime teaching credential and taught at Cerritos College for ten years and was a Wardrobe Consultant for J C Penny for 15 years. Art and Carol have two daughters, Heidi (Thomas) Tully and Nicole, three grandchildren: Amanda (Ryan) Stevens, Adam Tully (Holly Hager) and Allie (Tylor) Yates and three great-grandchildren: Rowdy and Reese Yates and Jackson Ryan Stevens. He was predeceased by Jackson on January 10, 2018. As Allie wrote; "we lost our biggest supporter, best gramps and most kind-hearted guy, who always put others first, especially his family." Nicole says that her Dad is in Heaven, floating on clouds in his Hawaiian shirt and shorts, talking to everyone, holding Jackson and playing with his dogs. During his illness, adjectives people wrote to him: " generous, kind, welcoming, host with the most, story teller, cook, extremely patient, dog lover, big hearted, true mentor, protective, steadfast, accepting, steady force, rock of the family, good man, military role model, a true GM Man, incredibly hard working, Godfather to many, open, professional, Santa Claus, ultimate salesman, always had shined shoes and sharp ties, pleasant, true friend, compassionate, bacon lover, and loving father, grandfather and husband." Art was the grandson of a Baptist Preacher, a Presbyterian Elder for 30 years and supporter of many other churches. As John 3:15 states, "That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." What we know is that God has called one of the good guys home and we will all see him again at the right hand of our Heavenly Father. Graveside service at 9:15 AM, June 15, Bakersfield National Cemetery. Celebration of Life at 6 PM June 15, 2018. Please call for directions. Officiant: Major David Ebel Salvation Army In Lieu of flowers, please donate to Kern County Cancer Fund Media Jam or New Advances for People with Disabilities, CCA in Bakersfield