
H. George Arsenault was born September 30, 1927, and passed on February 27, 2026 (98). He became a member of the MCGP April 25, 1995 (30).
George served the Senior Men’s Club in many ways. He was a Director, a Chairman of several Committees, President (2004-2005) and part of the Father Son President duo with Marty McMillan (2017-2018)
Henry George Arsenault (George), patriarch of the Arsenault-McMillan family, 98, of St. Clair Shores Michigan passed away peacefully in his home on February 27, 2026, surrounded by his loving and devoted family.
Born to Anna (Babin) and Joseph Ernest Arsenault, he was the third of their five children, raised in Detroit where he attended Holy Redeemer High School. He enlisted in the army after graduation, serving in the Signal Corp at Fort Bliss (Texas) and Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth (New Jersey). After leaving the army, he went on to receive an associate and bachelor’s degree from the Detroit College of Business. Later he obtained his master’s degree in political science from the University of Detroit.
George spent the greater part of his career with General Motors as a financial analyst and financial data programmer, retiring in 1988. He later joined a division of Chrysler as a systems information director where he enjoyed another ten years.
In 1952, George married his first wife Margaret Elizabeth Foley, whom he met during high school, raising seven children together before Marge passed away in 1964 after a prolonged illness.
George met his second wife, Delores Ann Shmina McMillan, a widow with ten children, at a Catholic club for widow and widowers. George and Delores married in June of 1966 at St. Clare of Montefalco, creating a family of 17 children, an event memorialized on the front pages of the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. They raised their family in Grosse Pointe Park, agreeing from the beginning to never use the term “step”, “your” or “my” children, only “our” children. They enjoyed 48 years of a loving marriage, which in addition to raising a large family, included a shared love of bowling, cross-country travel, card games, and many family functions with children and grandchildren.
A strong proponent of lifelong learning, George advised his children if you can read, you can learn anything. George’s love of learning was broad, and included analyzing the writings of Greek philosophers, studying the civil war, teaching himself how to write computer code and eventually writing books himself. George was the proud author of four books that capture his incredible life story and philosophies: My Blue Heaven; One Plus One Equals Nineteen; Seven Come Eleven; and Bits and Pieces.
Throughout their lives, George and Delores were faithful and devout parishioners at St. Clare of Montefalco, involved in several church committees. For over 30 years, George was an active member of the Grosse Pointe Senior Men’s Club, and served in many capacities, including President. George was also a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus.
George loved to drive, with one of his favorite places being behind the wheel. After Delores died in 2014, he spent the next six months taking various trips around the country to visit his sister, children and grandchildren coast to coast, bragging that he put 36,000 miles on his car in six months.
Until his passing, George continued reading the Wall Street Journal, working on his crossword puzzles and reciting his favorite poems. Friends, family, hospital workers, waiters and occasionally complete strangers were regaled with his recitation of “If” by Rudyard Kipling, or “The Face on the Barroom Floor” by Hugh Antoine d’Arcy. He has a chapter in Bits and Pieces titled “Poems That Taught Me Something”.
His family of 19 was his greatest life accomplishment. He knew it was no ordinary task to take on the challenge of raising a blended family of 17 children, but he did it anyway, having faith that if you did something for the right reasons, everything would work out.
George was predeceased by his parents, two brothers and two sisters, his two wives Delores and Marge; sons Mark Arsenault, Donald McMillan, and Timothy McMillan; his sons-in-law Ken MacKool and James Albulov; and his great grandchildren Austin Griswold Roney and Violet Amelia Moore.
He is survived by his children Jaimen McMillan (Dorothea), Joseph McMillan (Janice), Mary Ann Arsenault, Patricia McMillan MacKool (Michael Ryan), Patrick Arsenault (Diane), Ann McMillan Salinger (Burt), Margaret Arsenault Roache, Martin McMillan (Donna), Robert Arsenault DuPont, Steven McMillan (Sharon), Susan McMillan, Aileen Arsenault (Nolan Hampton), Janet Arsenault (Pedro Barbosa) and Mary Ann McMillan Dollinger (Steven), and daughters-in-law Jan Rewers McMillan and Brigid McMillan.
He is also survived by his grandchildren Scott McMillan (Mitzi), Brian Roney (Gwen), James McMillan, Kevin Roney, Lara McMillan-Moore (Jeremy), Kate MacKool (Matthew McCreary), Julianna Van Wagner (John), Chris McMillan, Colleen Murray (Seamus), Mike MacKool, Sarah Shapiro (Ryan), Chantal DeNella, Jackie Jaffe (Alex), Katie Thoits (Scott), Mark Albulov (Brea), Erin McMillan, Michal Sabogal (Gonzalo), Anna Albulov (John Crowley), Ryan Arsenault, Eric Salinger, Jimmy McMillan (Andrea), Michelle McNulty (John), Michael McMillan, Elise Arsenault, Max Albulov (Andrea), Lindsay McMillan, Alex McMillan, Jared Salinger, Justin Dollinger (Amanda), Peter McMillan (Christina), Lauren Kouril (Phil), Lilly Arsenault, Colin Gallagher, Shane Dollinger, Shane Gallagher, Benjamin McMillan, Pat Roache, Tara Dollinger (Shambhu Rajeev), Christian McMillan, and Trevor Dollinger.
His legacy also includes 48 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and many beloved nieces, nephews and treasured friends.
Visitation will be on Thursday, March 5th from 1 to 8 pm at Chas. Verheyden Funeral Home, 16300 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan with a rosary at 6:30 pm. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held on Friday, March 6th at 10:30 am at St. Clare of Montefalco Church on Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Park Michigan; in state at 9:30 am.