Melvin Earnie Arnold

ARNOLD, MARTIN, JENKINS, KEEGAN, HAWKINS, KERKOVE, HOEFER, CARMICHAEL, LILLIE

Posted By: diane (email)
Date: 2/6/2016 at 11:35:57

Melvin Earnie Arnold
(November 27, 1916 - October 24, 2015

Melvin Earnie Arnold

Melvin Earnie Arnold was born November 27, 1916, on the family farm southeast of Aurora, Iowa, the son of Dale James Arnold and Adelaide Carolyn Martin Arnold. He attended the local country school and then Winthrop High School where he graduated with the High School class of 1933.

Melvin was united in marriage to Mary Alice Jenkins on January 24, 1940, at Independence, Iowa. To this union were born two sons: James and Robert. The family farmed 320 acres in Byron Township using conservation practices such as terraces, waterways, and rotation of crops from 1940 to 1979. While still farming, Melvin worked for Micro-Switch in Independence, Iowa, Triangle Plastics in Winthrop, Iowa, and the Buchanan County Soil Conservation Office in Independence. In 1986, he received the Buchanan County Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, confirming his many years of wisdom and knowledge in the area of agriculture.

Leaving the farm in 1979, Melvin and Alice moved to their new home in Winthrop, Iowa. Alice died in 1993 and Melvin eventually moved to Prairie Hills Assisted Living in Independence and most recently to the Senior Citizens Apartments in Winthrop.

At nearly 99 years of age, Melvin E. Arnold entered into his eternal rest on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at Buchanan County Health Care Center in Independence.

Preceding Melvin in death were his parents; his wife, Alice; two brothers: Donald and Howard; sister, Marguerite Keegan; daughter-in-law, Mary Arnold and grandson David Arnold.

Survivors include his two sons: James (Shirley) Arnold of Aurora, IA and Robert Arnold of Somerville, TN; seven grandchildren: James Jr (Sheri) Arnold of Independence; Scott (Angela) Arnold of Altoona, IA; Michael Hawkins of CA; James (Meshell) Hawkins of Independence; Christine (John) Kerkove of Independence; Sue (Ron) Hoefer of Masonville, IA; and Melanie (Jerry) Carmichael of MD; seventeen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; his sister, Donna Lillie of Independence; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, October 30, 2015, at 11:00 A.M. in the Church of Christ United with Pastor Dean Schlitter officiating, Anita Bowden, musician, and Tom Griffin, soloist. Grandchildren will be Honorary Bearers. Interment will follow at Fremont Township Cemetery north of Winthrop.

Friends may call from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 29, 2015, at the Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop and after 10:00 A.M. Friday at the Church.