Albert Lean Arnie Mulso is a true American in spirit.

As a veteran of the United States Air Force, a past commander of Albert Lea American Legion Leo Carey Post 56 and a winner of the Service to Mankind Award in 1999, Mulso works hard to do his duty for his country, while at the same time fulfilling responsibilities for family, work and others.

“There’s some satisfaction in being able to help,” he said.

Over the years he has served on boards for Senior Resources, the Story Lady Doll & Toy Museum, Albert Lea’s Sesquicentennial Committee, Daybreakers Kiwanis, the University of Minnesota Extension Committee and St. John’s Foundation, to name a few.

He served as commander of the local American Legion from 2004 to 2005 and from 2006 to 2007, working to keep the doors of the organization open as long as possible to its members.

And he’s done it all as a payback to the community, he said.

When he was commander of the local Legion he helped to clean up and remodel the lounge and to obtain a grant for 24 new Honor Guard uniforms.

The Legion has been so important to him, he said. It’s an organization that every veteran who has served in the military belongs to, and it aims to educate the public and children about patriotic themes.

Born and raised in Sherburn — which is about 70 miles west of Albert Lea on Interstate 90 — Mulso entered the Air Force just out of high school in 1962. He served most of his four years in the service in Omaha, Neb., and attended the University of Omaha at the same time.

After being in the service, he attended Mankato State College and received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in geography.

He came to Albert Lea in 1971 as a school teacher at Southwest Middle School but switched careers in 1980 when he was cut from that position during a decline in student enrollment.

As a result, he made the switch to the insurance business, which he has been at ever since.

He now works as a registered representative with ING Financial Partners.

“I have had the privilege of helping many people with protecting their estates and families, plus many people with their retirement planning and seeing them living out their dream retirement,” he said.

That is the most satisfying part of his job, he said, to see the end result come about as he helped it be planned to do so.

Though he is not an official teacher at a school like he used to be, Mulso said he still sees himself as a teacher — just of a different topic, this time of something more tangible — of finances.

Though his life has changed since he first came to Albert Lea, Mulso stays busy with his work, his family and his service in many organizations around town.

“Albert Lea is a great place to live,” he said.

He’s married to Pat, the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum, and together they have four children, Stacy, Dean, Matt and Jeramy. They have eight grand and step-grandchildren and three step great-grandchildren.

Age: 63

Address:

Albert Lea

Livelihood: insurance agent with ING financial partners

Family: wife, Pat; four children: Stacey, Dean, Matt and Jeramy; eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren

Interesting fact: Mulso and his wife used to collect antiques with the intent to someday open up an antique shop. That idea didn’t come to fruition, but the couple did keep some of the antiques.