Robert Arlo North

NORTH

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 6/22/2007 at 09:05:43

North, Robert Arlo
October 3, 1932 - June 1, 2007
Denison Bulletin/Review
6/8/2007

Robert Arlo North was born October 3, 1932, the son of Sears and Olive Dowling North. He died Friday, June 1, 2007 at Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa at the age of seventy-four.

Arlo was born in Vail, Iowa and received his education in Dow City and Vail country schools. He attended Vail High School, graduating with the class of 1951. After graduation, he began farming with his uncle in Denison. On August 19, 1956, he was united in marriage to Joan Riddle at the United Methodist Church in Dow City. The couple made their home on a farm and were blessed with the birth of four children. In addition to farming, Arlo drove school bus, was a mail carrier and an EMT, and served on the Dow City-Arion Fire Department, for more than twenty years.

Tractors were a very important part of his life and he enjoyed remodeling, customizing, and repairing tractors, and also participated in many tractor-pulls. In his spare time, he liked hunting and fishing, golfing, telling stories, and playing cards. Arlo had many memorable experiences in his life. One in particular was that he was the first person in the state of Iowa to have his life saved by a portable defibrillator while attending an auction in Denison at the sale barn. He was a member of United Methodist Church in Dow City; the Masonic Lodge; the Olive Branch Chapter of Eastern Star of Vail; the Dow City Cemetery Association; the Elkhorn Antique Tractor Club; and the Western Iowa Antique Engine and Tractor Club; and a Union Township Trustee for more than thirty years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Gary and Kenneth; two daughters-in-law, Diane and Angie; one grandson, Patrick; one step-granddaughter, Monique; three sisters, Mary Lou North; LaNora North, and Olive Mae Griffin and her husband, Don; and two brothers-in-law, Jack Garrett and Clemet Birney. He is survived by his wife, Joan of Dow City; his son, David and his wife, Laurie of Denison; and his daughter, Karen North and her special friend, John Fletcher of Omaha; one grandson, Derek of Dow City; two step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Arlene Birney of Broken Bow, Nebraska; and Shirley Garrett of Dow City; four brothers, Don and his wife, Liz of Meadville, Pennsylvania; John and his wife, Angie of Denver, Colorado; Jim and his wife, Bev of Garnett, Kansas; and Glenn and his wife, Jacqueline of Dow City; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at United Methodist Church in Dow City, Iowa. Rev. Judy Deweber officiated the services and grave side rites held at the Dow City Cemetery in Dow City. Organist Jeanette Kuhlman provided accompaniment for vocalists Laurie North and Marlene Jahn as they sang "The Old Rugged Cross," and "How Great Thou Art." Those serving as honorary pallbearers were Raynard Schmidt and Larry Griff. Those serving as pallbearers were Skip Andersen, Skip Leonard, Jim Slechta, Larry Greer, Arlo Schwanz, Bill Hubbard, and Don Kahl. A Masonic service was held at 7 p.m., Monday at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. The family invited everyone in attendance at the funeral to join them for fellowship and lunch served by the Methodist Ladies. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of the arrangements.