ARENDS, Donald G. 1927-2013

ARENDS, BEVING, GUNN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:16

Donald Arends, age 85 of Ackley, died on Thursday, August 1, 2013 at the Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Saturday at the Faith Presbyterian Church in Ackley with burial in East Friesland Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-8 P.M. Friday at the Sietsema Funeral Home in Ackley.

Donald Glenn Arends was born in the family farmhouse in rural Etna Township, Ackley, Iowa on August 15, 1927 to Dick G. and Anna (Beving) Arends. He attended a one-room country school one mile north of Cleves. Donald married Verjean Gunn on July 27, 1948 and their union produced three children: Bruce Alan, Brian Glenn and Anita L. Arends. He lived his entire life on the family homestead, except for his years of military service in the Pacific Theatre as an Army police officer, returning home in 1947. Like several generations before him, Donald farmed the family farm, which was established in 1864.

Donald was active in his local community, serving on several boards: Grundy County REC Board of Directors for 27 years, Ackley-Geneva School Board, Hardin County 4-H and Farmer’s Mutual Insurance Board. He also was involved in Hardin County 4-H for over 40 years, and served as the chairman for the Building Committee at Faith Presbyterian Church. His favorite hobbies included horses and trail riding with family members, fishing, hunting, cheering his favorite teams at sporting events and attending the activities of his children and grandchildren.

A loving husband, father and grandfather, Donald will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He is preceded in death by his parents Dick G. and Anna B. Arends, siblings Ruth Buss, Evelyn Freeseman, Arnold Arends, son Bruce and his wife Verjean. He is survived by his son, Brian (Diane) Arends of Omaha, Neb., and daughter Anita Arends Adkins of Gilbert, Iowa; four grandchildren Alyssa (Daniel) Johnson of Edmond, Okla., Nathan Arends of Denver, Colo., and Abbey and Austin Adkins of Gilbert, Iowa, and two great-grandchildren, Paul and Phillip Johnson.

--Sietsema and Surls Funeral Homes (www.surls.com)