James A. ARNEAL

ARNEAL, HOOVER, MEHAFFEY, JOHNS, GIGGEE, HENDERSON, TEIG

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/3/2009 at 21:31:40

Fremont Tribune
Fremont, Nebraska
December 2, 2004

OBITUARY - JAMES A. ARNEAL

The funeral for James A. ARNEAL, 83, of North Bend will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at United Presbyterian Church in North Bend [NE].

He died Sunday, November 28, 2004, at Birchwood Manor in North Bend.

He was born August 20, 1921, in Redding, Iowa, to J. D. and Bessie (HOOVER) ARNEAL. He grew up in Redding and was a 1938 graduate of Redding High School and a 1942 graduate of Tarkio College in Tarkio, Mo. While at Tarkio College, he was a member of the 1940 NAIA National Championship Basketball Team. He attended Pittsburg-Xenia Theological Seminary until he joined the U.S. Navy. He served during World War II from 1944 to 1946 and served in the South Pacific. He married his college sweetheart, Maxine R. MEHAFFEY, on March 15, 1947, in North Bend. The couple taught school in Lenox, Iowa, until moving to a farm near North Bend in 1952. There he farmed with Maxine's father and brother, and later with his son, until retiring in 1985.

He was a member of United Presbyterian Church in North Bend where he served as an elder, clerk of session, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He also sang for many weddings and funerals. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8223 of North Bend. He was a past master and member of Masonic Lodge 119, A.F. & A.M. of North Bend. He was a former member of Ruth Chapter 119, Order of Eastern Star, former member of Cotterell Township Board, Farmers Co-op Board and Tarkio College Board. He was a member of the Tarkio College Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a former member of North Bend District 8 School Board and a member of the original District 95 School Board. His hobbies were traveling, woodworking and attending his grandchildren's activities.

Survivors include: his wife, Maxine; a son, Steven J. (and wife, Mary Le) ARNEAL of North Bend; a daughter, Janet L. (and husband, the Rev. Dr. Tim JOHNS) of Kansas City, Mo.; and six grandchildren, Nathan ARNEAL, Corrine (and husband, John) GIGGEE, Lincoln and Whitney ARNEAL and Alissa and Jason JOHNS.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Mary HENDERSON, and an infant brother, Howard ARNEAL.

The Revs. Dr. Tim JOHN and Maetta SNYDER will officiate Wednesday's service. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. today at Moser Memorial Chapel in North Bend and one hour prior to service time at the church. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. A Masonic service will be 7 p.m. today at the funeral home led by Masonic Lodge 119, A.F. & A.M. of North Bend, and is open to the public. Military graveside services conducted by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8223 and AmVets Post 20, both of North Bend, and American Legion Post 340 of Morse Bluff will be at Woodland Cemetery in North Bend.

Pallbearers will be Nathan and Lincoln ARNEAL, Jason JOHNS, Tom HENDERSON, Bill HENDERSON and John GIGGEE. Honorary pallbearers will be Corrine GIGGEE, Alissa JOHNS, Whitney ARNEAL, Judy TEIG and Kay HENDERSON.

Memorials have been established to United Presbyterian Church and North Bend Central Foundation.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009